A sixth grader’s letter to her school librarian was the catalyst for a canned food drive this week at Hartselle Intermediate School.

Julie Rhodes, library media specialist, said the idea came from sixth grader Samantha Borglum.

“She wrote me a letter saying that families are in need of food more than one time a year around the Christmas holidays,” Rhodes said. “So we are going do have a food drive.”

The food drive began Monday and will conclude on Good Friday, April 18.

In her letter, Borglum said she hoped this would be a great way for the school to work together for a common goal. If they achieved that goal, then the whole school would celebrate.

“Please consider my idea because I feel it would help a lot of families now that another holiday is coming and that food is just plain good,” she said in her letter. “Food also keeps us living. It could help the community very much and people would be very thankful to the school.”

Rhodes said the food collected will be donated to local food pantries.

“It will stay right here in Hartselle to help local families,” Rhodes said. “I applaud her hard work and ambition for this project.”

Samantha Borglum brings food to start a canned food drive at Hartselle Intermediate School Monday.