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RES flexes for FORCE
0316 FORCE
Archie Jenkins, director of FORCE, congratulates Rincon Elementary Principal Dr. Paige Dickey, center, and Sherri Walsh, RES reading recovery teacher, as Rincon Elementary collected the most cans during a recent FORCE food drive. Rincon Elementary students collected the most canned goods for all elementary schools and for all schools overall in the Effingham County system. - photo by Photo by Calli Arnold

Rincon Elementary School received an award from the Food Outreach Coop of Effingham for raising the most food items of all the schools in Effingham County during a food drive last fall.

In total, the 14 county schools donated approximately 20,000 canned goods for the food drive. For the middle school division of the food drive, Ebenezer Middle won and for high school, Effingham County High School was tops.

RES won for both elementary division and overall.

“This was a wonderful thing that the schools did at a time when the need was so great at the food pantries,” said FORCE director Archie Jenkins.

The five food pantries in the county were running low of goods to give to their clients at the time, but the food drive replenished the supply from the middle of November, through the holidays and into January.

Sherri Walsh, the RES reading recovery teacher who headed the RES food drive, and RES Principal Dr. Paige Dickey accepted the awards presented by Jenkins from FORCE. The students competed between grades to see who could collect the most non-perishables, and the second graders won, with 600 cans.

Per capita, RES collected 3.6 cans per student.

In addition to food drives, FORCE hosts a number of fundraisers throughout the year to raise money, which include an upcoming golf tournament and a concert. All contributions to FORCE go directly to the area food pantries.

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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