Salem Community High School students have responded to the greater need for food assistance in the community, bringing in nearly five thousand more cans of food in this year’s canned food drive than last year.
When the food was all counted Tuesday morning, 23,625 cans of food were collected in the regular canned food drive in addition to 1,126 highly needed food items that were collected in a contest to select a winner to receive a pie in the face.
Assistant Principal Kelsey Pogue won the pie in the face contest thanks to the work of general education students.
“I think there was a little conspiracy going on with Mrs. Smith’s class, and I did promise them that if they had the most items in my bin that they could all help pie me,” Pogue said. “I think that really helped them rally so they could all be a part of it, which I am more than to do.”
It was actually more than a pie in the face, as Pogue took two pies to the face and then was sprayed with five cans of whipped cream in a school assembly.
The winning home room classes were Amy Telford and Cathy Kohnen who collected 6,972 cans. Telford explained how they did it:
“We got lots of donations from many supportive people in the community and then were able to purchase large quantities of cans and additional items that are helpful non-perishables. We got them all loaded up and brought them here.”
The home rooms of Trina Green and Lilly Risby was second with 2,778 cans collected and the home rooms of Jackie Malan and Kendra Henderson was third with 2,549 1/2 cans.
Principal Clint Wolfe says some students are also volunteering at the Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry where the food is being delivered.
“It’s an opportunity for our kids to learn service,” Wolfe said. “We focus on academics and some of those things as we should, but having a serving heart and being willing to look out for one another and do things for each other just because you can is a super important character trait to have, and I’m just thankful that we get to address that kind of thing in this project.”
While the drive is sponsored by the student council, Sponsor Matt Donoho says this effort is school wide.
“There is a high need every year, but we know that people are hurting and suffering right now,” Donoho said. “SCHS students heard that call and stepped up, and that’s why we have the greatest students, because when there’s a cause in our community, when people need something, our students are ready. I’m not just talking about our student council and NHS, I’m talking about every student here at SCHS.”
The Director of the food pantry, Carol Ann Short, is very thankful for the large donation.
“We are seeing more people than we were even from a month or two ago, so we’re really excited to have the food available for people whenever they’re coming in.
Short says the food pantry is now serving around 630 families, up from 524 in September and 170 in the spring. She feels the rising cost of food and energy is driving more people to seek help. Short notes they have received tremendous response from the community since announcing their emergency situation of running out of food last month.
Homeroom students from Cathy Kohnen and Amy Telford’s classes, who combined efforts to collect over 6000 cans for the SCHS food drive this year.
Assistant Principal Kelsey Pogue with general studies students after receiving a pie to the face.
Students bring food in to the food pantry. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
