GFHS decked the halls with food for those in need
Published on Fri, Dec 30, 2011 by BY PAM STEVENS | MANAGING EDITORRead More Local News
Walking through the halls of Granite Falls High School on Monday, Dec. 12 was like walking through a well-organized grocery store. Donated food items literally decked the halls of the large school as students prepared to make Christmas boxes for families in need.
Student leaders Tia Cervarich and Cassie Prouty are helping to coordinate the event to help families right here in Granite Falls.
“We have students here at our school in need and many families in our community that have been out of work for months,” Prouty said. “This time of year is especially hard for people that are struggling to put food on the table and to have Christmas gifts for their kids.”
In 2010 the high school brought in over 17,000 food items and collected almost $4,700 to purchase toys and personal items such as shampoo and toothpaste to help local families.
This year’s food drive was expected to bring in less because of the financial strains of many more families in Granite Falls. However, the students collected much more than expected plus thousands of dollars which was used to purchase toys for the children in the families they were helping.
The students are able to provide food for two weeks for each family.
The remaining food was split between the local food banks in town, which was enough to help additional families.
“On the first day of the food drive we brought in 6,000 items so we’re off to a great start,” Cervarich said.
Being able to be part of the student committee who organizes the annual food drive is a coveted position. Students actually have to fill out applications and be interviewed to be part of the 12 person crew which includes Marketing Directors, Public Relations and many other jobs.
Senior Jakob Sprague filled out an application last year but was not accepted because so many seniors had also applied. He was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the team’s Marketing Directors for this year’s food drive.
“Last year I applied and didn’t get through,” Sprague said. “I still got to help out and thought it was really fun and wanted to be a bigger part of it this year.”
Sprague was also part of the crew who put together a touching video about the need for food in Granite Falls. You can view the video on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=aibpwGakaJQ.
Senior Logan Thomas helped put together the giving tree located within the school. Realizing how many families were in need was a bit of surprise.
“The number of children on the giving tree was very surprising,” she said.
Students who participated spent hours at the high school before and after school and on weekends preparing for the food drive and distributing food baskets but all felt the true Christmas spirit as they served not only those living in their community but also fellow students.
“This has become such a tradition that people will call the high school and let them know about families who are need,” Kathy Grant, Community Relations Director for Granite Falls School District said. “This is a highly coordinated and organized event.
Student leaders Tia Cervarich and Cassie Prouty are helping to coordinate the event to help families right here in Granite Falls.
“We have students here at our school in need and many families in our community that have been out of work for months,” Prouty said. “This time of year is especially hard for people that are struggling to put food on the table and to have Christmas gifts for their kids.”
In 2010 the high school brought in over 17,000 food items and collected almost $4,700 to purchase toys and personal items such as shampoo and toothpaste to help local families.
This year’s food drive was expected to bring in less because of the financial strains of many more families in Granite Falls. However, the students collected much more than expected plus thousands of dollars which was used to purchase toys for the children in the families they were helping.
The students are able to provide food for two weeks for each family.
The remaining food was split between the local food banks in town, which was enough to help additional families.
“On the first day of the food drive we brought in 6,000 items so we’re off to a great start,” Cervarich said.
Being able to be part of the student committee who organizes the annual food drive is a coveted position. Students actually have to fill out applications and be interviewed to be part of the 12 person crew which includes Marketing Directors, Public Relations and many other jobs.
Senior Jakob Sprague filled out an application last year but was not accepted because so many seniors had also applied. He was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the team’s Marketing Directors for this year’s food drive.
“Last year I applied and didn’t get through,” Sprague said. “I still got to help out and thought it was really fun and wanted to be a bigger part of it this year.”
Sprague was also part of the crew who put together a touching video about the need for food in Granite Falls. You can view the video on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=aibpwGakaJQ.
Senior Logan Thomas helped put together the giving tree located within the school. Realizing how many families were in need was a bit of surprise.
“The number of children on the giving tree was very surprising,” she said.
Students who participated spent hours at the high school before and after school and on weekends preparing for the food drive and distributing food baskets but all felt the true Christmas spirit as they served not only those living in their community but also fellow students.
“This has become such a tradition that people will call the high school and let them know about families who are need,” Kathy Grant, Community Relations Director for Granite Falls School District said. “This is a highly coordinated and organized event.
