Maple Grove Junior High Students Contribute to Community Through Food Drive

This holiday season,  students are giving back to the community—one piece of food at a time.

The student body at the  recently participated in a food drive, sponsored by the school’s student council.

“In ISD 279, a part of our mission is for students to contribute to community.  The food drive is one way in which we can encourage and help students to understand the importance of giving back to the community,” said Principal Laurel Anderson. “Our community often reaches out to  and this is one that we can give back.”

It is the fourth year the 25-member student council organization at the junior high has led the food drive. Last year, due to the down economy, two food drives were held. Donations previously were sent to  This year, the No-Barriers Youth Food Shelf in Brooklyn Center will be the recipient of the food donation to focus on giving back to youth.

“... We have many of our students throughout our district and our school that are homeless. This is a crisis that is ever growing and we wanted to give to our fellow peers and students,” said Melissa Ries, the junior high Student Council advisor.

The food drive runs about a week each year at the school. Student council members deliver collection boxes before the food drive to each classroom. Word of the food drive was spread to students through word of mouth and morning and afternoon announcements. 

“We have 100 percent backing from teachers and staff. The teachers really motivate their students to bring food in. It is a total school-wide activity,” Ries said.

The food drive concluded Dec. 20 when student council members collected the donations from each classroom. Donation pickup is the “most difficult” part of the food drive each year, according to Ries, due to the size of the two-story Maple Grove Junior High building and the added weight of canned food.

“The students work very hard picking up the food and taking it to the back dock. It takes us over an hour to pick up all of the food,” she said. “The students definitely break a sweat, but throughout my years the students always impress me. They do not complain but keep smiling!”

Once the food is weighed by No-Barriers Youth Food Shelf, the top two classes to collect the most food will win a donut/fruit and juice party.

Donating the food not only benefits the recipients, but the junior high students as well.

“It is important to teach our young people to give back to their fellow human beings through community service projects. It teaches them to think of others instead of just worrying about how their hair looks or what new outfit they are going to wear,” Ries said. “Every year the students surprise me at how giving and thoughtful they are. They embrace this food drive and want to make sure the people who are hungry and do not have food—get some food. It makes them feel like they are making a difference and helping others.”    

The food drive is just one of several community service project students engage in throughout the school year. Projects such as Pennies for Patients, H2O for Life, Feed My Starving Children, Soles for Soles, bracelet sale fundraisers and a clothing and book drive are among the ways Maple Grove Junior High students give back to the community each year.

“We have wonderful support from students and families regarding community service projects,” Anderson said.