What happens when three hundred eager and engaged young philanthropists descend upon your facility, outnumbering staff 4 to 1, to act on their passion?

For the new generation of philanthropists, giving back isn’t just about giving money, but being engaged in their communities through meaningful social activities. A Legacy of Giving supports schools and youth by offering hands-on philanthropy education programs and real-life projects that make a difference. For the fall semester, students focused on poverty issues and marked the official culmination of a student-led food and clothing drive at the Food Bank on Thanksgiving eve.

More than 18,450 students from 33 Austin-area schools, including AISD and faith-based schools, came together to collect more than 2,800 coats and 43,100 pounds of food donations. Congratulations to Bowie High School for donating the most food at nearly 8,200 pounds!

What makes this event so special, especially for our staff, is that their passion is palpable and amplified impact through this act of collective giving.  The day of service is an inspiration to us all and a wonderful reminder that the youngest members of our community can and DO make a difference.

Thank you to the participating schools: Akins High, Austin Jewish, Austin Peace, Bedichek Middle, Bowie High, Covington Middle, Dobie Middle, EastSide High, Garcia Middle, Gorzycki Middle, Govalle Elementary, Holy Family, Kealing Middle, Kiker Elementary, Lanier High, LBJ High, Lee Elementary, Martin Middle, Mathews Elementary, O.Henry Middle, Ortega Elementary, Paredes Middle, Pecan Springs Elementary, Perez Elementary, Reagan High, Renaissance Academy, San Juan Diego, Small Middle, St. Gabriel, St. Ignatius and St. Theresa.

A special thank you goes to our partners: A Legacy of Giving, Coats for Kids, Jack Brown Cleaners, PODS, Town Lake Chapter of the Links and Junior League.

Did you know that young entrepreneurs also make the best budding philanthropists? Just ask Lira, age 7 1/2.

This weekend she and her friends served up ice-cold, strawberry lemonade in exchange for canned goods or monetary donations to benefit the Food Bank.   While she was getting her marketing materials ready for the big day, her mother Nelly asked her about her fundraising plans.

Lira and Ivy selling lemonade to raise funds for CAFB.

N:  Why did you decide to donate to charity with your lemonade stand?

The 21st annual Friends Feeding Friends Food Drive sponsored by the Temple-Belton Board of Realtors was a success! More than 21,000 pounds of food and more than $1,000 in donations was collected in Temple, Belton and Salado to help feed our hungry neighbors in North Central Texas.

The following Partner Agencies will directly benefit from the generosity of our North Central Texas neighbors: Churches Touching Lives for Christ, Love of Christ, Open Arms UMC, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Taylors Valley Baptist Church, Helping Hands Ministries, Christ the King Catholic Church and First Baptist Church Salado.

Thank you, to our partners: Temple Independent School District, Belton Independent School District, Salado Independent School District, Central Texas Christian School, Central Texas Now KCEN-HD, PacTiv, Walmart, and Brookshire Brothers for uniting our community to help end hunger.

Students in Mrs. Brunson’s 4th grade class at Great Oaks Elementary have been learning about hunger in their classroom by participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring Food Drive.

They kicked off their involvement by taking a field trip to the Food Bank to learn how food donations get sorted and boxed to be delivered to Partner Agencies. They even had the opportunity to sort some of the food items. Their trip to the Food Bank helped them believe that, “even though you are small you can still make a big difference.”

(Rodolfo Gonzalez AMERICAN-STATESMAN) Jasmine Watkins, 10, Madysen Hyatt, 10, Emma Griffith, 9, and Carson May,9, left to right, of Round Rock’s Great Oaks Elementary takes notes during a tour of the Capital Area Food Bank in Austin

Jake Byerly shares his thoughts about the experience:

(Rodolfo Gonzalez AMERICAN-STATESMAN) Ben Spelce, 10, left, and Jacob Byerly, 9, right, of Round Rock's Great Oaks Elementary carry a box of peanut butter as they volunteer at the Capital Area Food Bank in Austin

I am a student who was able to go on the field trip to the Capital Area Food Bank.  I personally think that hunger is very sad.  I never knew how many people were affected by hunger.  I thought it was just something affecting the homeless.  I have learned that there are lots of kids and adults who go hungry every day.    I thought that feeding the homeless on the corners was helping, but after this project, I have learned that I need to do more!

I have decided to find ways to help others in need.  I would like to personally challenge each student at Great Oaks Elementary to do the same.

We CAN make a difference!!!!!

(Rodolfo Gonzalez AMERICAN-STATESMAN) Abbey Kinchen, 9, left, and Simran Shah, 9, right, of Round Rock's Great Oaks Elementary sort food as they volunteer at the Capital Area Food Bank in Austin

Thank you to Jake, the students at Great Oaks Elementary, and Mrs. Brunson for visiting us and participating in the largest youth-led food drive in Texas.

(Rodolfo Gonzalez AMERICAN-STATESMAN) Emily Ngo, 9, of Round Rock's Great Oaks Elementary takes notes during a tour of the Capital Area Food Bank in Austin.

Learn more about Souper Bowl of Caring and how you can participate: http://www.austinfoodbank.org/sboc/