Student-sponsored food drive exceeds goal thanks to school community's generosity
Hinsdale Central students load boxes and bags of donated food items on to the FISH food pantry truck during a food drive Friday at the high school sponsored by the National Honor Society and Business Professionals of America club. The effort filled two trucks and a supplemental SUV. (Jim Slonoff photos)
The November wind had a bite to it Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Hinsdale Central High School. But the warm soul of service wouldn't be chilled as students "stuffed the trucks" with essential food and other items in an effort to provide neighbors in need with a happy and healthy holiday season.
The Thanksgiving food drive, jointly organized by the school's National Honor Society and Business Professionals of America club, benefited FISH food pantry of Downers Grove.
"The people who came here from the food pantry were saying that there were a lot of families in need," said senior and NHS board member Kendall Florence while helping direct donors in loading the pantry's truck.
She said word of the one-day event was spread through email and flyers and within each academic department. Incentives were offered to encourage maximum generosity.
"Departments had a contest to see which class could collect the most donations," Florence said.
Service is a central part of the NHS ethos, and juniors interested in joining could accrue points toward membership by participating in the drive.
Hinsdale's Theresa McClear, recently appointed a Downers Grove Township trustee, was instrumental in connecting the food pantry with the school when she was made aware of the acute need.
"The lines at the pantry are long and the shelves are running low," McClear said, adding they it serves as more than just a food dispensary. "Food pantries benefit the community in many ways. Not only do they reduce food insecurity and provide nutritional substances, food pantries also reduce crime and allow low-income households to pay other essential bills such as home, car and gas."
Lisa Rasin, co-manager of the food pantry, was ecstatic for the support from the Central community.
"This is unbelievable. I'm very appreciative of Theresa and the teachers and counselors that got this together," she said.
She also spoke to the ever-growing demand for pantry assistance,
"We're open twice a week and we're close to (serving) 130 families in a two-hour span each day looking for food," she said. "Five years ago when I started, we had maybe 20 or 25 families a week."
The truck continued to fill with items like mashed potatoes, oatmeal, chicken noodle soup, baked beans, maple syrup and much more as students ran up with contributions to the cause. Carts were employed to ferry donations from inside the school.
The goal was to fill one vehicle. Following the event, McClear sent an final tally.
"Thanks to (Hinsdale Central) we stuffed two trucks and an SUV," she reported by email, praising the students' generosity. "The pantry is now stuffed and ready to serve people in need this Thanksgiving."
Senior and NHS board member Alexa Gramatis said facilitating such an impactful outreach is a great way to give back.
"For other students to come help and donate was a great help for NHS," she said.
McClear said another drive to benefit the pantry will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, in front of Kramer Foods, 16 Grant Square.
