Social studies teacher Sam Wilkins’s fourth-period Honors Civic and Economics class donated the most items in Chapel Hill High School’s canned food drive preceding Thanksgiving break, with the school as a whole donating over 70 bags of groceries, according to Parents Organizing Resources for Children’s Health (PORCH) volunteer Laura Malinchock.
According to Wilkins, the class brought in 382 food items.
“I encouraged them. I made it fun, but I think they’re just good kids. They understand the significance of helping those in need,” Wilkins said.
Sophomore Jamy Mavoungou, part of the winning class, said she donated cans of vegetables, rice and spaghetti because she “wanted to help those who are without.”
The winning class also received a pizza party.
In second and third places were Stephen Head’s and Greggor Zoltners’s fourth-period classes, respectively.
Senior Holly Heizer, a part of Veena Rajan’s fourth-period Modern Global Conflicts class, donated to share some of her own resources with others.
“I know how fortunate I am, and I just saw this as an opportunity to do something to benefit my community through school, and I wanted to give back,” Heizer said.
The French club, which organized the drive, collected the canned food November 21, one day before Thanksgiving began, in order to provide snacks and meals to local families in need.
“Around the holidays, I think about showing our gratitude,” French club advisor and French teacher Christen Campbell said. “People, even students, in our community don’t have food. [A food drive] just seemed like an opportunity to make a difference.”
Canned, boxed and packaged goods filled baskets in many classrooms at Chapel Hill, donated by students and faculty members. The goods were shipped to local pantries and soup kitchens through PORCH, according Campbell.
Churches, temples and non-religious facilities house the meals for community members to come in and take a package home.
Mid-day announcements during the drive and placement of bags for food in every classroom led to high awareness of the event.
History teacher Timothy Campbell said he believes “some students [donate] because they’re do-gooders, which is a good thing. Others feel compelled to do it by their teachers. Either way, people get food, so I’m happy.”
English teacher Ethel Eason believes the Chapel Hill High School environment promotes charitable attitudes.
“Charity is a culture here. I think the community has a good sense of charity and giving to others in need. The youth in the community, per their parents, are more aware of charity,” she said.
The French club plans to continue the annual drive in the future.
