Starting on Nov. 20 is the student council annual winter food drive. Many teachers participate in this event by putting sign up sheets on their doors asking their students to help bring in food.
Student council asks for only specific food items for the drive.
“We ask for these specific items peanut butter, soup, vegetables, canned fruit, meat, tuna, canned spaghetti sauce, pancake mix, syrup, cake or brownie mix, mac & cheese, ramen, pasta, boxed potatoes, cereals, jello or/puddings, juices, crackers, paper towels, TP & tissues,” Student Council adviser Jessica Hogan said. “The reason we ask for these specific things is so that each family can have meals and restock their pantries with things that are some of the most expensive at stores but also the most helpful to have on hand.”
The food and items collected will go to families in need in the school district.
“We think this drive is the most helpful because it goes directly to families from AAHS,” Hogan said. “You may not realize that you are sitting next to someone in class whose home life is not great and who truly needs food at home. We are really trying to help the people we are with every day at school.”
While this food drive is helping many families in need, it wouldn’t be successful if they weren’t faced with some challenges.
“The biggest challenge in organizing this event is finding out how many baskets are needed, but once that number is found it is just a matter of gathering materials with the help of our community,” junior treasurer Margaret Brouse said.
“I think the challenge this year will be getting donations of what we need to fill baskets because times are tough all over. We also sometimes get expired items, and we cannot donate those. Luckily, we have such generous teachers and staff and students. It can also be a challenge to find good sturdy rectangular laundry baskets but we are hopeful that they will appear,” Hogan said.
Teachers have sign up sheets that any student can offer to bring in items for the drive between Nov. 20 and Dec. 20.
“Students can get themselves and their community involved by asking teachers or club advisers if they have a sign up sheet they can add to in order to make sure they are bringing in the right item to the right place. They can then ask parents or members of their community to help them get the materials they signed up for if needed,” Brouse said.
