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From Warsaw Community High School to Combined Community Services, students pushed about 50 carts full of approximately 9,000 items today.
The nonperishable items were raised during the high school's annual food drive. Each year, the freshman class is in charge of the food drive as their project for the year, but the entire school participates. The theme this year for the food drive is "Cans Across America."
"They actually did a really good job," said senior Hilary Robinson, student body president.
Each class was provided a grocery cart to fill. Some classes, Robinson said, filled two to three carts.
"I actually think they (the freshman class) did a better job of organizing than past years," she said. "I think the class has a lot of potential."
Freshman class president Mallory Kendall said the theme "Cans Across America" originally was the idea of assistant principal Jennifer Shepherd. She saw a commercial and came up with the idea. "We kind of thought of Hands Across America but instead of hands came up with cans," Kendall said.
The carts in the classrooms helped remind students to give. Kendall said all the grocery stores across town were called and were asked if they could provide carts. "Everyone was helpful," said Kendall. "We had more than enough and some we did not use. It was nice of them all."
Providing carts were Marsh, Owen's, Wal-Mart and Lowe's.
Kendall said they did not set a goal because they were not certain how many they would collect, but after counting and organizing the nonperishable items Friday afternoon, she said, they raised about 9,000. "It's really good," said Kendall. "We didn't know how many we'd get."
The classes bringing in the most cans were the classes of Mrs. Clevenger, Mrs. Kawsky and Mr. Kovach, Kendall said.
"It's just been neat to help CCS and get help for them," said Kendall. "It helped show me how to organize events and get kids involved. I think it's a real good turnout."
The time of the year for a canned food drive is perfect, said Robinson, because after Christmas, "especially right around this time, the food banks get low."
Peggy Wright, CCS director of client assistance, agreed. She said late January through March, CCS is low on food. CCS sees 240 to 280 families a month, and the food collected by the WCHS students might feed about 300 families, depending on family size.
"This is fantastic," said Wright. "We've been so low on food. ... I like seeing the students, schools involved. ... We have such a great community."
Not only does CCS benefit from the drive, said Robinson, but it also helps the school come together for a good cause.
"It's a good thing," said junior Travis Tuggle, one of the dozens of students who were picked by their teachers to walk the carts from WCHS to CCS. "It helps people that are less fortunate."
Senior Suzi Fluke said, "I think it's an awesome thing to do because it's a way to help people in Warsaw who need help who may not get enough government help."
On the walk to CCS, Fluke said, "We had a lot of looks on the way down like 'What are they doing?'"
"It's pretty cool," said freshman Ashley Cripe. "It's for a really good cause. We got a lot of food. I think the hard part is walking down with them."
Kendall said Ferguson Farms picked up the carts for the drive and will deliver them back.
"I want to thank the people who helped out with this," she said. "We got more carts than I thought we would with this."
