NORTHFIELD — Even more than a decade on, Northfield Elementary School’s annual food drive to benefit the Northfield Food Pantry is still fresh.

That special tradition continued Wednesday afternoon, as Carolyn Baskowki’s fourth grade class rallied the Northfield Elementary School community over the last month to collect 561 items for the food pantry, which is housed at Dickinson Memorial Library. Baskowski and former Northfield Elementary fourth grade teacher Nolan Kitfield started the tradition in 2014.

“I think it’s kinda fun we can help out our community and it’s kinda fun we can help out in an important way,” said fourth grade student Quinn Hall, adding that it makes her feel “happy and grateful” to participate in the food drive and give back. “It’s good to help out people in need who can’t afford food. … I think the food pantry is great.”

That mission of promoting positive change in the community is exactly what Principal Krissy Schreiber and Baskowski look to get out of the month-long collection process that ends in every Northfield Elementary student forming a human conveyor belt as they pass food to each other from the school and up the street to the food pantry.

“By doing what we’re doing, collecting food and donating it to the food drive, we’re showing empathy — thinking of the needs of others — and responsibility. We are taking positive action to help others,” Schreiber said at the all-school meeting preceding the donation.

As she helped organize students, Baskowski highlighted the involvement of not just the teachers and students, but the entire school staff, as well as other community organizations to make the donation happen. Alongside the school, Northfield Food Pantry volunteers helped sort items inside, while the Northfield Police Department and members of the Senior Center’s intergenerational Happy Feet walking program assisted students outside.

“It never gets old,” she said. “It’s a great way to bring our school community together and focus on doing good things in the world.”

Cody Skorupa, a fourth grader, said he was thrilled with the support he saw the school community give to those who may not be able to purchase food, especially as the holidays are approaching.

“I’m happy that so many people have donated,” Cody said, joking that it gets “tiring” passing along hundreds upon hundreds of items. “It makes me feel good so many people care about our community.”

At the Northfield Food Pantry, Manager Linda Chapin said the annual food drive is a huge boost for the organization.

“This is awesome,” she said. “The kids love it.”

The food pantry, located in the basement of Dickinson Memorial Library at 115 Main St., serves approximately 50 families on the two days it is open each month: the second and fourth Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chapin said the food pantry is open to everyone, including people who live outside Northfield and Bernardston. No personal identification or proof of personal finances are required.

Alongside traditional nonperishable items, the Northfield Food Pantry also offers pet food, hygiene products, personal care items, produce and frozen meat, among other products. Some of the support, Chapin noted, comes from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

“We’re here when people need us,” Chapin said. “If you’re hungry, you can come.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.