Spirit of cooperation alive and well in Unionville, Kennett

Earlier this week, Kennett Consolidated Superintendent Barry Tomasetti and Unionville-Chadds Ford Superintendent John Sanville challenged each other to a bet as to whose students would collect more canned food for the upcoming Martin Luther King Day of Caring Food Drive. The food drive is being held in conjunction with the MLK Day of Service, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21.

Ever since both Sanville and Tomasetti were installed as schools chiefs a couple of years ago, we have noticed a spirit of cooperation. This was evident last year when both districts came together to celebrate a community end-of-school-year breakfast that was traditionally Unionville only.

Take a trip to Anson B. Nixon Park on Jan. 21 and you will find both Kennett Middle and Charles F. Patton Middle students cleaning the park together. It’s part of the MLK Day of Service, and now both schools are joining forces to get more done.

While the bet is all in the name of fun, it seems to be inspiring students at both districts. Students and PTO leaders at Greenwood Elementary have started a drive to ensure that Tomasetti wins the bet. The loser will have to pay for lunch at Hank’s Tavern in Chadds Ford.

But make no mistake – there will be no losers here. The real winner will be Kennett Area Community Services and the needy in our community. The canned food drive will directly benefit this group. It’s refreshing to see this kind of spirit in both Unionville and Kennett.

But when it comes to sports, all bets are off. The long-standing rivalry between Kennett High and Unionville High is strong as ever, as it should be. It’s great to see students from both schools get pumped up and support their teams.

We congratulate both Sanville and Tomasetti for coming together for such a good cause. We are noticing it is generating excitement with the kids and we hope it continues.