Students Need Your Help In Collecting 10,000 Canned Goods For The Hungry

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Here’s something we can all get behind as a community while supporting our students and helping the hungry.

On Friday night and Saturday morning, students at the Newtown Middle School will be holding a food collection campaign at their school aimed at helping the less fortunate in the community.

They’re calling it “CANping" For Hunger.

From 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday night, Oct. 14 and again from 7:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, Oct. 15 students will be accepting donations of canned goods and nonperishable items in front of their school (look for the tent set up near the school’s softball field) at 116 Newtown-Richboro Road.

“Just drive in, unload your car and drive out. It will only take a moment of your time, but ultimately the results of it will help many in the community,” said Principal Tim Long. “The kids will be there to collect donations, sort through them and place them in boxes."

Examples of the non-perishable, non-expired items the school will be collecting include: peanut butter, canned soup, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pasta, canned beans, canned stew and canned fish

The school community has set an ambitious goal. They’d like to collect at least 10,000 items, the equivalent of one can for every student in the Council Rock School District.

“I’ve asked our student volunteers to bring at least five canned goods. That will get us to 500 even before we open up to the community,” said Long.

It’s a lofty goal, admit organizers, but one the community can achieve with a solid social media campaign (share the news with friends and neighbors).

The donations will be given to food pantries and shelters throughout Bucks County, which will redistribute the food to people in need.

“The food banks are always thought of highly around the holidays, but there are needs now as well,” said Long. “This is a good time to help them get a jumpstart on the holiday season.”

Students volunteering for the collection drive will be camping out overnight at the school where a full schedule of activities are planned including a nature walk led by a science teacher, glow-in-the-dark Frisbee and volleyball and lots and lots of snacks, including donations of pizza, cookies, soda, chips and drinks.

"It's just kids being kids and having a good time," said Long. "Their only real responsibility will be to work the donation lines when they are scheduled to be there."

“It’s going to be very quiet and low key. It’s not like a noisy dance," added parent Alicia Coghlan. "It will probably be the first camping experience for a lot of these kids. It’s really exciting.”

Long said he’s hoping that the drive will not only show the kids that they can make a difference, but also demonstrate to them the importance of service.

“It’s about thinking outside of their own comfort zone and thinking of others,” he said. “They all have nice warm homes and plenty of food, but
not everyone has that same experience.

"This is also something everyone can rally around as far as supporting each other and helping each other. And Council Rock is a very giving community," he said.

Plus, adds parent Coghlan, “participating in a community giveback is fun. It gets them excited about doing something different. A lot of these kids have never camped before so there’s that attraction. And just being able to give back.”

Between now and Friday evening, the community is encouraged to stock up on canned goods and nonperishable items and bring them to the school either Friday night or Saturday morning.

The effort is a joint project of the school and its parents.