Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, December 18, 2008

Cascade High School students deliver despite the ice

Volunteers rally to help them distribute donated food and gifts.

By Eric Stevick, Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- So there they were Wednesday morning: dozens of Cascade High School students with mountains of canned food, 160 turkeys and a long list of families expecting their visits.

There was just one problem -- miles of icy roads that canceled school also meant they couldn't deliver the goods they had worked so hard to gather.

"We were really worried," said Alexi Stavang, Cascade's student body vice president, who helped organize the school's 47th annual food drive. "One of the special things about our food drive is students get to personally deliver the food to a family."

As it turned out, they still did, thanks to an army of volunteers that included alumni, parents, school and district staff, and others who served as chauffeurs.

It was a tall order, literally, with a school record of 67,739 food items and more than $20,000 in donations.

Volunteers maneuvered fleets of shopping carts through ice and slush to Cascade curbsides, where boxes of food were loaded into the back seats and trunks of cars in the wind-whipped parking lot.

"I wasn't sure how we were going to get the food to these people," said Shelina Martinez, a Cascade junior. "I called my mom and said, 'Mom, you have to help us.'"

Sue Martinez said it was a wonderful experience getting to watch her daughter take such joy in helping others.

"I think it's a great community service and they feel so good about what they are doing," she said.

Each family was given a holiday meal that included a turkey along with Christmas presents and a month's worth of food.

When word spread that the Cascade students needed help Wednesday morning, people quickly descended on the campus.

Back from college in Chicago, Cascade alum Rachel Dean tagged along with her dad, Jim, a former Cascade principal.

"It's so great to come back and get to help," she said. "I felt so bad for the kids who worked so hard."

Cascade Principal Cathy Woods knew the snow would be an inconvenience, but was confident the food would make it to its destinations.

"This community knows how to pull together," she said.

"People came out of the woodwork," said Tom Lundberg, a Cascade math teacher.

For Stavang, the help from others, including businesses and local residents who donated food and money, was a reminder that the Cascade community extends well beyond the school grounds.

She delivered food to five homes Wednesday and hopes people realize the significance of the effort.

"Bringing the families the food is the most amazing part of the food drive," she said. "To actually get to witness it and see their appreciation firsthand is just so moving. They are so grateful."

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA