The annual food drive to benefit the Contra Costa food bank is planned to run December 9-19. The food bank distributes the donated food to people living below the poverty line. The food drive, organized by the Leadership Class, has been a Campolindo tradition since 1996.
The competition between classes is set up using last year’s data, creating “leagues” comprised of classes that traditionally reach similar donation totals. There are 2 different ways for classes to win the competition. “We have a few different ways of winning, the ratio of cans to students in each class and the most cans in general,” said Junior Class Secretary Kenzie Brown.
The specific foods students may bring are canned foods and other nonperishable foods, as long as there are no glass containers.
The prizes for the winners of the competitions are pizza parties, according to Brown.
In the past, the campus has donated over 60,000 cans, which is why it is considered to be one of the top contributors to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. According to Leadership teacher Dino Petrocco, each year the school sets a goal of 60,000 to 70,000 cans. “Last year we donated the equivalent of 67,000 cans of food,” said Petrocco.
The food drive occurs over the last 2 weeks before winter break. “We raise enough that 2 weeks is a sufficient amount of time,” said Brown.
“If Mr. Walsh and Mr. Schumann have fourth periods, we always expect them to do well. There have been some newcomers. Mrs. Herzig did well last year. Typically Mr. Walsh, Mr. Schumann, and Mr. Ingersoll are the big contributors each year,” Petrocco said.
According to Petrocco, the determination of the teachers is reflected in the amount of food that is donated by the students in their classes. Teachers have developed individual strategies for their classes that inspire donations to be made. Food prizes and a general sense of good will also motivate the students.
Brown felt that the food drive really pulls the community together. “The food drive benefits the community a lot more than you would think,” she said.
