Students Collect More Than 800 Pounds of Candy

Rather than stockpile their stashes of Halloween candy, the students at Lutz’s Learning Gate Community School decided to share the wealth this year.

Their surplus candy was collected last week to benefit , a nonprofit organization in Land O’ Lakes. That agency sends supplies to troops overseas and uses candy in place of bubble wrap when possible.

The Hillsborough County charter school began its candy collection on Nov. 1 and finished up Nov. 4. By last Friday, students had brought in 819 pounds of chocolate, hard candy, gum and more.

To sweeten the deal for students, the school offered a “free dress day,” which means no uniforms, for the grade that collected the most. With that prize on the line, students scrambled to top each other. On the first day of collections, more than 130 pounds of candy was turned in. By Nov. 2, more than 500 pounds was tallied. The final count came in at just over 800 pounds with the fourth grade winning the prize.

“It’s just amazing,” said Michele Northrup, who handles fundraisers and public relations for the school, which draws students from Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Carrollwood, New Tampa and beyond.

Learning Gate is an environmental charter school that puts a strong emphasis on community service projects, Northrup said. The school also tries to put a spotlight on healthy eating and exercise habits.

Pam Sikoryak, the school’s nurse, has been working with the two physical education teachers to put together a wellness plan for students, teachers and the entire school community. The candy collection project fit that perfectly, she said.

“It just jived with our philosophy here,” Sikoryak said.

While Sikoryak is happy the candy will benefit Treats for Troops and soldiers in the field, she’s thrilled with the potential health impacts the turn-in drive could have on the school’s children.

“I can’t even begin to calculate” the calories in 819 pounds of candy, she said.

For more information about Learning Gate, visit the school’s website.