Submitted photoFaith Vaughn, Popeyes, and Dixie LaBruyere congratulate Sandra Crawford on her homeroom collecting 1,369 cans during the canned food drive at West Lauderdale Elementary.  

Students and teachers at two dozen local schools collected 38,523 cans during the 13th annual Popeyes and Little Caesars Canned Food Drive – Fill the Mayflower.

The drive, which took place from Oct.16-Nov. 3 included 10,572 students working to help those less fortunate in the community. Schools chose which charity they wanted to support and the cans were distributed to feed families in need during the upcoming holiday season through L.O.V.E’s Kitchen, Salvation Army, Wesley House Community Center and Lauderdale Baptist Association.

Popeyes and Little Caesars sponsor the event and work with local schools. Participating schools this year were Carver Middle School, Clarkdale Elementary School, Clarkdale High School, Clarkdale Middle School, Crestwood Elementary, Lamar Elementary, Lamar Middle and High School, Magnolia Middle School, Meridian High 9th Grade, Northeast Elementary, Northeast High School, Northeast Middle School, Northwest Jr. High, Oakland Heights Elementary, Poplar Springs Elementary, Southeast Elementary, Southeast High School, Southeast Middle School, St. Patrick School, T.J. Harris Upper and Lower Elementary, West Lauderdale Elementary, West Lauderdale High School and West Lauderdale Middle School.

The overall six homerooms from the participating schools collecting the most cans received a $250 to be used by each teacher for the needs of her classroom and students. The homerooms also received gift certificates from Popeyes and Little Caesars for parties, as well as goodies for the students and a gift bag for the teacher.

The top six homerooms were Chet Nicklas at Clarkdale High School, where 28 students collected 2,970 cans; Kayla Weir at Clarkdale Middle School, where 27 students collected 2645 cans; Veronica Culpepper at Clarkdale Middle School, where 28 students collected 2,629 cans; Sandra Crawford at West Lauderdale Elementary, where 20 students collected 1369 cans; Susan Smith at Lamar Elementary, where 12 students collected 909 cans; and Julie Rawson at Clarkdale High School, where 19 students collected 794 cans.

Cans were picked up and delivered to the charities with the help of employees, friends and trucks as well as a driver from Graham Moving & Storage and U-Save Auto.

Wechsler Day celebrated

The Wechsler Foundation held its annual Wechsler Day, featuring two Meridian notables, Pat Brown and Jonas Crenshaw, Jr.

The event is held the third weekend in October to bring attention to the historic Wechsler School, the first brick school for black children in Mississippi built with public funds.

The three-day event consisted of a meet and greet featuring a skit written by Melba Clark-Payne titled “Meridian Without Wechsler and other Black Schools,” drumming by Tavio Rand and a dance troupe.

On Saturday, a parade passed historic sites such as New Hope Baptist Church, St. Paul AME Church, the lot where The Carnegie Library stood, ending at Wechsler School where games, food and music rounded out the day at Hugh Mitchell Playground. Sunday culminated the celebration with the gospel program directed by Jonas Crenshaw Jr. and a gospel ensemble made up of members from the Sweet Spirits of St. Paul which Crenshaw directed at one time and others who joined in.

Crenshaw, who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serves as principal for STEM Academy at Showalter in the Chester Upland School District.

He also serves as director of music and worship arts at the Mother Bethel AME Church.

Cheryl Owens writes the Neighbors column for The Meridian Star. Submit items to cowens@themeridianstar.com.