LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - Luther Elementary School in Live Oak was awash in color Friday, April 5, as the Confidence Crew kicked off their first Color Run.

Educator Tania Castellanos tells the Herald that the Confidence Crew is comprised of third and fourth grade girls grouped together for Castellanos' honors project for Chico State.

“The focus of the group is for girls to develop social skills and understand their own personal limits as well as the limits of their peers. In strengthening interpersonal skills, girls walk away with added tools to help with the changes that will happen in the following years. These tools will help them with the confidence to tackle hardships and uncomfortable situations they may face, while doing it with compassion for others,” said Castellanos.

 This student braces for a blast of color during the Luther Color Run. Photo by Steven Bryla

The girls organized the Luther Color Run, asking for donations of 5 canned food items from their classmates for the opportunity to participate. A goal of 500 cans was set by the crew to be donated to the Live Oak Unified “No Child Hungry” program.

“This is a very important program that our school district has in place for families who are facing food insecurities.” Shared Castellanos. “The majority of the food comes from donations, but it has shown to create a positive impact for our students. The Confidence Crew understands that food is one of our main tools to success and they want to help the program.”

Castellanos says that by collecting donations of the “No Child Hungry” program her group is learning the “importance of setting person, group and community goals.”

 The students at Luther Elementary School dodged volunteers who happily doused participants with colored chalk, creating rainbow clouds of color during the Color Run. Photo by Steven Bryla

The Color Run was held on the Luther Elementary School campus and began at 2:00 pm last Friday. Students provided their cans of food to organizers and got ready to be coated with color for the cause.

Not only was the Color Run fun, but it was successful.

“The girls surpassed their goal with 618 items!” says Castellanos. Food collected will be donated to fellow students and families in need through the LOUSD “No Child Hungry” program.

 From left to right is Yamilena Del Rio, Ayva Valdez, Lydia Cuéllar and Marina Alvarez. These outstanding young women exceeded their goal of raising 500 cans of food to be donated to the LOUSD “No Child Hungry” program through the Color Run they organized. Photo provided by Tania Castellanos