District 308's 8th Annual Food Drive Runs Through Oct. 13

OSWEGO, IL — Oswego School District 308's annual food drive is underway. In its eighth year, the effort aims to keep pantry shelves well-stocked and provides some competition for schools to see who can raise the most items by Oct. 13.

Last year, the district collected almost 140,000 items and cash equivalents for the food drive. After this year's ends, officials are expecting to have collected more than a million items since the food drive first started in 2014.

District 308 made its first donation to the Kendall County Food Pantry in 2014, providing them with 58,000 items. It was the largest donation ever made to the pantry, officials said in a news release Thursday, and since then, the district has shattered its record yearly.

In 2019, the district donated its highest number of items: 286,611 — a combination of food items and cash equivalents. The pandemic didn't stop people from helping the pantry; the district was still able to donate 139,152 items and cash equivalents.

Anyone who wants to donate to the food drive can do so through the Kendall County Food Pantry's website. Every dollar donated buys $8 worth of food items for people in need, according to its website.

"The food drive occurs at a critical time before the holiday season, when food donations are needed most. It also aligns the efforts of individual schools to maximize the community’s impact in fighting hunger locally," district officials said in a news release.

Whichever school raises the most items will be announced as the winner during halftime of the varsity Crosstown Challenge football game Oct. 15. The winner will be awarded the title and a trophy. In the past, reigning schools were Oswego High School, Plank Junior High School and Churchill Elementary School.

"This will be our eighth year of our students, parents, and staff coming together to help combat hunger in the area," Superintendent of Schools John Sparlin said in a statement. "This is a wonderful way to align our efforts, while the students learn about hunger and the importance of giving back to the community. By working together, every little bit counts."

More information about the food drive can be found on the district's website.

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