By Dee Grenert Editor
CULVER — Culver Elementary School Administrative Assistant Craig Hopple wore a pink shirt and black-and-pink checkered tie to work Friday.
He soon wound up with hot pink hair to match his ensemble, thanks to the generosity of his students.
Hopple, who promised to dye his hair pink for the day if students donated at least 2,007 items to Girl Scout Troop 477’s “Pretty in Pink” food drive last month, made good on that vow after the drive collected a whopping 3,077 items.
“If that motivates them to do that for the community, then it’s good,” Hopple said of his temporary look. “I’ve been here 16 years. Never have I had as much community interest from students and parents as I’ve had for this.
“There were parents bringing in cases and cases of canned goods because they wanted to meet the goal,” he added. “It’s a great community service project for the kids.”

And the students, who cheered enthusiastically while Girl Scout Troop Leader and drive coordinator Shaunna Bennett spray painted Hopple’s hair, enjoyed the prospect of a pink-headed administrator.
“I think it looks good on him,” sixth grader Dana Wireman said. “It suits him. I think he should dye it for real.”
However, the man in pink, who bought his pink shirt and complementary tie just for this occasion, nixed the idea.
Hopple, also Culver Community High School’s boys track coach, hoped to make it through after-school track practice without too much drama. By the time the weekend rolled around, though, he said he’d be back to his natural blond.
“I wanted to make sure it would wash out because when I’m at church Sunday, I want to look like I belong,” Hopple laughed.
Bennett suggested the hair dyeing after learning of a local grade school principal dyeing his hair and shaving his beard when his students achieved a goal.
Once the drive received the go-ahead, Culver students inundated their classrooms with food and personal hygiene items. Bennett received quite a pleasant surprise when she and scouts Brianna Bennett, Clar Baker and Angella Harness tallied the contributions.
“We counted 1,680 to start with,” the troop leader explained. “I thought, ‘Another 320, no big deal.’ Oh my gosh, they came though.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” she added. “We set our goal at 2,007. They went way over and above that. I thought we could generate a little more interest with Mr. Hopple dyeing his hair. I thank (Principal) Mr. (Chuck) Kitchell for letting us do this and Mr. Hopple for doing it.”
Bennett also thanked Jessica Smith, the parents and students for their gracious donations.
All of the items went straight to the Culver Food Bank to restock its shelves. According to Bennett, Amy Hutchins, director and operator of the food pantry, gratefully received the reinforcements.
“(Hutchins) was absolutely ecstatic,” Bennett beamed. “They’ve been really struggling. Most of the things at the food bank in South Bend, where she gets a lot of her supplies, have been going to (Hurricane) Katrina victims. She got her first voucher since Katrina right around Christmas. She’s really been low down here, especially on refrigerated meat. Now she’s got canned items so she can work on getting refrigerated meat.”
The Scouts also received help from other sources. Dennis Gann delivered boxes from American Containers in Plymouth for moving the food, while five boys — Marcus Clifton and two sets of brothers, Dylan and Blake Bennett and Ethan and Justin Bennett — helped transport the items.
Marilyn Day’s sixth-grade class earned a pizza party, furnished by The 10 Spot, for donating a school-best 397 items.