Madison Service Learning Project Benefits Roadrunner Food Bank

Tammy Crespin’s art education students focused on hunger issues that Americans, and especially New Mexicans, face in these difficult economic times. Her Fall 2011 Horizon Grant proposal was entitled Art Bowls for Hunger Awareness and had as a learning goal engaging students in the creative process while addressing an important social issue.

Madison MS Teacher Tammy Crespin holds one of the Talavera bowls created by her art education students, who also prepared and served food to raise funds for Roadrunner Food Bank.

May 21, 2012

Students learned about hunger issues through research and a guest speaker from Roadrunner Food Bank as the first part of the process.  Then student pairs created effective posters for hunger awareness as part of a presentation to another class.  Following that, students used their posters to create an effective food drive campaign to solicit donations for a food drive at Madison Middle School.  Madison students collected over 900 pounds of food for Roadrunner Food Bank.

The final component was the design, in the Talavera style, of plate to be auctioned off at a dinner event showcasing the project on May 17 at the school.  Students planned and organized each activity with the final goal of raising as much money as they could for the Roadrunner Food Bank.  In the end, Madison art students successfully raised over $1100 from their art auction. As part of the entry for the event, patrons were also encouraged to bring in food donations rather than purchase a ticket.  As a result, Madison collected an additional several hundred canned food items to support Roadrunner Food Bank’s summer food drive. This unique project set high expectations for every student involved as they engaged in problem-solving activities every step of the way.  As research shows, students involved in project-based and service learning projects have high levels of motivation and academic achievement.  The Horizon Award project has given students real world experience and application of their learning.  Ms. Crespin said, “In the end, my students will learn what it is like to be an active member of their community, how to harness the power of art for an important cause, and how to create art with meaning.”