Schools

Viking Volunteers Help County Food Drive

Middle school students lead student effort

For more than a decade students at the Cranbury School have been taking part in the Middlesex County Spring Food Drive. This year they not only took part in the event but also finished as one of the "top collectors" in the effort. 

It took the work of more than a dozen of the older children in the school but after several weeks of work they collected enough cans to build a ship to represent their Viking spirit. The ship was built using more than 700 cans and measured a whopping 12-foot-long by 5-foot-long according to the county. The ship was displayed prominently after it was completed near the new gym in the school. 

After finishing out of the top 30 just last year the Cranbury students worked their way into the top 20 with a 19th place finish in the rankings. By the time they were done one of the smallest schools in the county helped collect more than 1200 pounds of food for the Middlesex County Organization and Outreach Distribution Services (MCFOODS). 

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For their work the students were recognized by the organizers of the drive. "Cranbury is a prime example of how thinking out of the box can really pay off," Middlesex County Freeholder Deputy Director Blanquita Valenti said. "We encourage more schools to follow in their example so that they too might bolster participation, heighten awareness and spark enthusiasm in community service."

Neighboring Monroe Township Middle School also performed well in the food drive collecting close to 4200 pounds of food which was even better than last year's 2500 pounds. The improvement was credited to an effort by the student council at the school and a variety of events including penny wars and scavenger hunts among others. 

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The county said 139 schools took part in the drive and collected 52 tons of goods to be donated. MCFOODS Project Manager Jennifer Apostol said that while donations were down from last year they would still help in the organization's goals. "This drive is so crucial to our collection efforts and I can't thank the participating school administrators, students, families and communities enough for all of their help."

Apostol added that the "dwindling," donations do present "serious concerns," for MCFOODS' efforts. "It's even more alarming when you anticipate the increasing needs that typically accompany summer, a time when many children, who are not in the school system, don't have their regular access to subsidized meals."

Residents throughout the county can make donations to MCFOODS at one of the local library drop-off sites. Local drop points in our area include Monroe, East Brunswick, Plainsboro and South Brunswick.  

For more information call 609-655-5141 or visit the MCFOODS website


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