From Nov. 10-20, HHS students and faculty are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items for the SGA food drive.
More than 42 million Americans faced delays and reductions of SNAP funds due to the record-long government shutdown beginning in October. Despite benefits returning in November, new cuts to the program mean more families will need food assistance this holiday season. More than 752,000 SNAP recipients live in Alabama, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The annual SGA food drive donates to people in need around Thanksgiving to celebrate the spirit of being thankful and giving to the community. Highest priority items for donation include dry goods like rice and cereal, but all non-perishable items are welcome. No glass containers are permitted.
SGA sponsor and AP English Literature teacher Michele Cooley works to organize the logistics of the drive, collaborating with local nonprofits to help families in need.
“We coordinate with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to make sure that they are able to come and collect the goods and let them know when our time frame is,” Cooley said.
Cooley explains the incentives to participate in the drive.
“It is a part of our class points competition, so students who bring in goods get five class points for each item they bring in,” Cooley said, “We will be keeping track of which grade has the most donations and awarding points.”
SGA works with the West Homewood Outreach Group through Trinity Methodist and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to distribute the food to the people in need, organizing and coordinating with the groups prior to the food drive.
Beta Club members sign up to volunteer in the mornings, collecting and recording food donations at the tables in the front and back of the school.
Caroline Tanner, senior and SGA executive president, explains how the food drive helps people on SNAP benefits.
“We definitely encourage people to bring a lot more because there are a lot more people in need, so we are hoping that we can help out more people this year,” Tanner said.
Tanner adds why it is important to donate to the SGA food drive.
“It is important for students to donate for the food drive because I think that it is the least we can do during the holiday season and help out our community,” Tanner said.
Sponsor Cooley believes that contributions to the drive, however small, make a big difference.
“I think anytime that you can give back to the community and help to make somebody else’s life a bit easier, it’s a good thing to do that,” Cooley said, “We have a lot of generous families and students in our community who are looking for a way to be a help to their neighbors.”
Last year, the food drive brought in 1,710 lbs. of food that gave 1,425 meals to families.
