The ministry, which last year fed more than 8,000 people, welcomed the donation, said executive director Rev. Ed Seeger. The district officially adopted the ministry as a charity for long-term support in memory of Rachel, said Superintendent Charley McMath. Rachel began volunteering at Metro Ministries with her mother three years ago. Judy Thurman said Rachel was always by her side, whether working at a church charity or at a community wide Thanksgiving meal. The school's gesture is a great way to remember her daughter, she said.
People can just open their eyes to see that there are people around that are needy.
The students decided to call the drive the Rachel Thurman Memorial Food Drive, McIntyre said. It is such a small school and everybody knew her. At the school, the food drive was another way for the students to remember Rachel, who was known for her vibrant personality and somewhat eccentric dress styles. Besides wearing mismatching colors, Rachel would sometimes wear her ballerina shoes to school because she loved to dance. Once, Rachel brought crutches to school when she had a small cut on her foot, said fourth-grader Mickey Douden.