Avery Hohenstein, staff writer
Monroe Rotary Club students have been given the opportunity to pair up with the Sky Valley Food Bank to plan and organize a food drive in March. All donations go towards the food bank, which benefits all of those residing within the Monroe School District.
For the past six years, students have been finding ways to combine benefiting the citizens of the community with their personal school education. As many people depend on the Food Bank for their meals, it’s important for both the students and the community to combine their resources.
Unfortunately, last year's 2014 Food Drive did not obtain nearly what they had been shooting for; their intake reached an amount of 697,357 lbs. of food donations. Though they were able to distribute 775,400 lbs. to local families, this still left donations at a shortfall of 78,000 lbs. of food.
However, students have been planning ways to rise above this shortcoming and have found many ways in how to do so. For starters, these students have set up Food Drive competitions between schools within the district, so the amount gathered could be increased.
Many people have generously volunteered their time gathering all the donations they can, and are working on venturing throughout all sections of the community.
In regards to donations, non-perishable items are greatly appreciated. However, according to the Sky Valley Food Bank executive director Neil Watkins, another perfectly appreciated way to donate is by cash.
“We can buy more food for a dollar than the average consumer can, because we have wholesalers, and we have places we can go and get it less expensive,” Watkins explained.This is helpful for those who don’t have the food to donate, or those who don’t know what to donate, for that matter.
Students are excited for this chance to utilize their strengths in leadership and organization for the sake of the community.
Monroe Rotary Club students have been given the opportunity to pair up with the Sky Valley Food Bank to plan and organize a food drive in March. All donations go towards the food bank, which benefits all of those residing within the Monroe School District.
For the past six years, students have been finding ways to combine benefiting the citizens of the community with their personal school education. As many people depend on the Food Bank for their meals, it’s important for both the students and the community to combine their resources.
Unfortunately, last year's 2014 Food Drive did not obtain nearly what they had been shooting for; their intake reached an amount of 697,357 lbs. of food donations. Though they were able to distribute 775,400 lbs. to local families, this still left donations at a shortfall of 78,000 lbs. of food.
However, students have been planning ways to rise above this shortcoming and have found many ways in how to do so. For starters, these students have set up Food Drive competitions between schools within the district, so the amount gathered could be increased.
Many people have generously volunteered their time gathering all the donations they can, and are working on venturing throughout all sections of the community.
In regards to donations, non-perishable items are greatly appreciated. However, according to the Sky Valley Food Bank executive director Neil Watkins, another perfectly appreciated way to donate is by cash.
“We can buy more food for a dollar than the average consumer can, because we have wholesalers, and we have places we can go and get it less expensive,” Watkins explained.This is helpful for those who don’t have the food to donate, or those who don’t know what to donate, for that matter.
Students are excited for this chance to utilize their strengths in leadership and organization for the sake of the community.