Pack the Principal's Office

The East Haddam Food Bank will be well stocked this spring thanks to the help of a dedicated group of middle school students, faculty and community members. The 8th annual food drive, sponsored by Teens in Action (TIA), surpassed last year’s collection and totaled over 4,100 items of food and $1200 collected in donations.

“The students have worked so hard; our kids do such a great job,” said Carol Rusch, Psychologist and Coordinator of TIA.

Students from all grades in the middle school participated in the two-week long drive called Pack the Principal’s Office. They collected canned goods, cereal boxes and other non-perishable items in addition to cash donations.

According to Principal Jason Peacock, 7^th grader Sara Weekes has been one of the students who has “been really instrumental in helping with the food drive.”

Sara says she got involved because “my family uses the food bank and I wanted to help give back.”

When asked what she would say to other students who might be shy about using the community food bank, she said, “they should just go; you need to do what you need to do to help your family.”

Sara was able to get cases of food donated by Noelle’s in Colchester and the . She has also spent countless hours organizing the piles of food that have overrun Principal Peacock’s office.

Fellow 7^th grader Jack Siena said he is volunteering to “help feed people who are not able to feed themselves.”

Devil Hall, who is in 8^th grade, said he was involved because “I like to serve in my community. It’s painful for families to have to go to the food bank because they don’t have enough money to buy food for their kids.”

There is a friendly, but fierce competition between the grades as to who will collect the most food and be crowned the winner of the food drive says Rusch.

Mrs. Marino’s 4^th grade class was this year’s winner and beat out the reining 8^th grade champions. Mr. Anderson’s 8th class secured 2^nd place, followed by Mrs. Sullivan’s class for 3^rd.

Pizza and ice cream parties are offered for the top winner of the entire school and the winner of each grade is offered an ice cream party. According to Rusch, the winning classes “usually say to give the money I would spend on the parties to the food bank instead.”

The Feinstein Foundation will match both the food and dollar amounts raised.

TIA is a community service group located at the NHRMS that takes part in annual activities including a coat drive, holiday campaign and food drive. The group is open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8.

TIA works closely with East Haddam Youth and Family Services.