During Spirit Week, January 28th through February 1st, National Honor Society is hosting a food drive to benefit the New Haven Food Pantry. Students will have the opportunity to earn spirit points by donating items to the drive.
NHS has held a food drive every year for the New Haven Food Pantry and the Buddy Bags program. Mrs. Wendy Oelrichs mentioned that one year they raised over 1,000 items for the Buddy Bags Program.
“The food drive is an annual service event that NHS hosts,” said Mrs. Wendy Oelrichs, NHS sponsor. “It's a great way for our students to support our community and earn spirit points for their class.”
Grace Soete, NHS member, stated, “I know Student Council has always put on successful food drives, so I have no doubt that the National Honor Society food drive will be just as successful!”
The recommended items for the food drive include canned meats, beef stew, chicken and dumplings, chili (with and without beans), pancake mix, syrup, cereal, oatmeal, personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant), toilet paper, tissues, crackers, tea, coffee, juice, oil, salt and pepper, cornbread mix, canned fruit, and applesauce. If a student brings an item on the recommended list, they will get two spirit points; and if an item is brought in that is not on the recommended list, they will receive one point.
Treasurer of New Haven’s National Honor Society Miranda Durbin mentioned, “The food drive is a great way for students of our age to get involved and help the community. In the past, we have donated a lot of supplies-- especially if there are spirit points involved. The students at New Haven love their spirit points, and I have no doubt that the classes will turn the food drive into a competition for these points. While the spirit points are a good incentive, I feel that the students here will have enough initiative to donate as much as they can carry each day of the drive. I’m excited to see how this will pan out!”
“I hope that this year's students participate well,” said Mrs. Wendy Oelrichs. “If each student brings in 2 items to donate, that's over 400 items to help stock the Food Pantry.”
National Honor Society is calling all students to search through their pantries for the food they don’t eat or don’t mind donating to the New Haven Food Pantry. Remember, each item earns the respective class spirit points, and there is a prize for the class with the winning amount of spirit points at the end of the year… So let the food drive games begin!