WARDEN - It was a big setback when Warden's Community Food Pantry was recently gutted in an apparent burglary just before the holiday season.

As much as 600 pounds of dry goods were stolen from the pantry, which is organized by Warden churches to provide food to people in need, especially at this time of year when food baskets are arranged for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But students at Warden Elementary School turned the setback into an action plan, raising more than 3,100 items of food and tripling what was stolen in just a few weeks.

"I know the community is very grateful for what they did," said Warden Mayor Roldan Capetillo. "They've proven the community can pull together and help each other through things like this."

Under the direction of Warden school librarian Rise Wiggins, Warden fourth grade students held a "Be a Souper Hero" food drive over two and a half weeks, when all of the school's students were encouraged to gather canned goods and other donations to replenish the food bank.

Wiggins said the fourth-grade leadership project was a big success, and not just because of the end result.

"It went beyond the school and gave them the opportunity to help out the community," she said. "Anything that gives kids a leadership role, they really take ownership and run with it."

Jana Wiley's kindergarten class raised the most food, with 364 items donated from their room alone, according to Warden Elementary School Secretary Shelly Kilmer.

"A lot of people will be especially thankful this Thanksgiving because of these students," Kilmer said.

The school's "PAWS" (Parents Advocating for Warden Students) group held a separate drive at the same time. While the group was planning some sort of a drive in November, PAWS president Shanna Golladay said they hadn't settled on what to do until the pantry theft occurred.

"We were deciding whether to collect food or warm clothes, but when our local food bank was broken into it made it a pretty easy decision to do a food drive," she said; adding the project was a great learning tool for kids. "The community gives a lot to them and this helps them to see that part of being a good citizen is giving back. They also like the end prize of a pizza and root beer party."

Both Golladay and Kilmer thanked Wilbur-Ellis, a Warden agricultural product distributor, for sending out a truck and helpers to transport the food and for donating prizes for students who got involved.

The food pantry's locks have been changed as a security precaution since the food theft occurred earlier this month. But while Capetillo said there are as yet no leads as to who may have stolen the food, he believes the combined efforts of the Warden community have overruled any permanent damage caused by the thoughtless crime.

"We've proven to them that we can do better," he said.