Buried inside a 7-foot tall mountain of food, diapers and other items was a group of Meadowdale High School students who had done good.
On Friday, Dec. 9, they had reached their goal of collecting more than 100,000 items of food for their annual food drive.
“It’s that time of the year and families are hurting for food,” said Alex Hurt, vice president of the Associated Student Body. “This sends the message that people are still trying and doing all they can.”
As students stacked the canned hams and the Top Ramen, ASB advisor Matt Wallis had a justifiably proud look on his face. He said this was the first year the students had reached their goal.
Last year, they fell short by only a few thousand. This year, the students beat the goal by collecting 105,000 food items.
“I can’t put into words how proud I am of the kids,” Wallis said. “Regardless of if we reach our goal, the work the kids put in is amazing.”
As the media is full of reports that charitable donations are down, seeing the generosity that people had lifted the students’ spirits.
For some students, it was also a chance to shed the image of the disenfranchised youth. ASB secretary Michelle Marshall said that the dedication the students showed helped as well.
“It brings the community together,” she said. “It’s better to give than receive. Plus, I grew up as an only child. … It shows that really I’m not that way.”
But there was another incentive to reach the goal — the ASB will now sponsor a school-wide dance as a reward. Dances are not that common at the school, Marshall said.
In order to reach the goal, some students put in long hours. For Hurt, that included a 12-hour stint standing in front of Top Food &Drug. That was a team effort with the Edmonds Fire Department. The money and food collected there counted toward the school’s goal, but went with the fire department.
“I was just thinking about all the people we’re helping,” he said. “I may have been out there for the day, but they’re out in the cold for I don’t know how long.”
That dedication led to the school collecting the most it had since 2001. Wallis said he was euphoric when it was announced the goal had been reached.
“I really felt like we could do it this year,” he said. “I’m so proud of the school.”
Wallis said that the hurricanes and other disasters around the world probably led to people contributing.
“It’s pretty cool when they say that donations are down, but our school exceeded standards,” Wallis said.
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