When FMC Elementary School fourth-grader Christina Perez read in the newspaper that Bee County employees were collecting food and household items for Hurricane Ike victims, she wanted to do her part too.

The 9-year-old, who is running for class vice president, and Jose Gonzalez, who is running for class president, teamed up to start a collection drive of their own.

They made posters and hung them up on campus. They got on the school’s loudspeaker system and encouraged students and teachers to contribute items.

Their hard work paid off.

On Thursday they delivered boxes of canned food to the county courthouse, where it will be packed and shipped to needy folks in Chambers County.

“The kids at school were really excited,” Jose said. “They brought a lot of stuff in.”

The cartons of food and water collected by students and staff at FMC Elementary School were added to a mountain of boxes filled with food already stuffed in the commissioners courtroom.

Bee County Clerk Mirella Escamilla Davis helped sort and pack the items, which will be loaded on a truck provided by Bonnie Plant Farms in Beeville and driven up north and delivered by a driver provided by the company as well.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Susan Stasny, her daughter and grandson, and Linda Bridge, an employee at the tax assessor-collector’s office, helped sort and pack items Thursday.

“I am so proud of Bee County,” Davis said. “Look at all this (food). It shows Bee County cares.”

Bee County Judge David Silva also was impressed by the large number of boxes filled with food, beverages and household supplies.

“This is wonderful,” he said as he surveyed cans of vegetables and meats stacked on two tables running the width of the commissioners courtroom. “Sometimes the generosity of people is overwhelming.”

On another two tables were heaps of toilet paper, diapers, paper towels and other household supplies. In a corner of the room were 48 cases of bottled water, purchased with cash donations.

Davis said Bee County residents contributed almost $600 in cash and checks over the course of the four-day food collection drive, which began Monday.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Eloy Rodriguez held up a check on Monday worth $100. It was written by Virginia Cope, who lives outside of Beeville.

“She understands how badly the hurricane victims need items and she wanted to help,” Rodriguez said.

While Bee County employees collected food and other items at H-E-B Food Store and Wal-Mart Supercenter, Kicker 106 encouraged school children to pitch in and collect food as well.

Christina Perez said she and Jose stood in the hallway of their school Thursday collecting items from students and staff.

She said she watched news coverage of the hurricane on television and knows the Category 2 storm destroyed homes and lives.

Many of those hurricane victims are children, just like her, she says.