Food Drive Wrapping Up At Chassell School

A Community food drive has students in Chassell fighting hunger and competing for pizza at the same time.  K through 12 students at the Chassell School have been collecting canned and dry goods that will be forwarded to area food banks tomorrow, with each grade competing to collect the most.  “At the school we are gathering food so it can go to the local food banks and it goes to Little Brothers, it goes to the Salvation Army,” said Chassell School teacher Mary Markham.

For more than 20 years, elementary students at the Chassell School have been collecting canned goods during the holiday season but this year the whole school is taking part.  Markham said, “This year, we are participating with high school and the elementary so we have little posters that show where they’re at as far as pounds. We are actually measuring out the poundage of food that the classes are bringing in.”

As the goods come in, each item is weighed and charted, keeping a running tally of which grade has brought in the most.  “Usually it’s just the elementary and this year we decided to add the high school in. Adding the high school creates a little competition, which never hurts,” Markham said.

As an incentive, each student from the winning class will be given a pizza from Papa Murphy’s.  “It’s a good opportunity to raise awareness of people’s needs in the area too,” Markham said.

The drive will end on Tuesday, and so far has been pretty successful compared to other years.  “I’m not quite sure how we’re comparing but I think we’ll see on Tuesday when they actually weigh it. I think were doing pretty good,” said Markham.

If you have canned or non perishable items to donate, that are not expired, they can be dropped off at the school during normal business hours.  Markham said, “Anybody can come to the front door and ring the bell and donate food.”