To help people in need in the community, the National Honor Society (NHS) organizes an annual food drive. The NHS food drive took place from December 6-14.
According to NHS co-advisor Cynthia Geschwindt, the NHS food drive gathers various foods.
“We collect not just canned food but non-perishable food items in second block classes,” Geschwindt said, “and it becomes a competition between all the second blocks to gather the most food.”
All the food collected during second block is donated to a food pantry in Harleysville called The Shepherd’s Shelf, which NHS has been working with for the past few years.
“Our food goes to the Sheperd’s Shelf food pantry in Harleysville through Christ Lutheran Church,” Geschwindt said.
After the food is donated, they always receive good feedback from The Shepherd’s Shelf about the collected food, according to NHS co-advisor Kristi Ansert.
“We usually receive letters from The Shepherd’s Shelf about the amazing turnout and that people are benefiting greatly,” Ansert said.
She also said that the NHS food drive is “a good time to reflect and remember that there are people that are less fortunate and try to pass that generosity on.”
NHA president Khushi Thaker said that many aspects of the food drive make it important to the community. “It’s a really good way to help those around us and the community,” Thaker said.
The food drive has many aspects to enjoy. “I’m excited to be more involved because this is one of the big events the NHS organizes in the school year,” Thaker said.
According to science teacher Patrick Murphy, who contributes to the food drive annually, there are ways to get students more involved with donating items to the food drive, such as giving out extra credit as a class-wide incentive.
“I know that all my students are generous, caring and kind people. But, sometimes we need that little more motivation to make them put [food] in their bag and bring it to school,” Murphy said.
With a motivator such as extra credit for the entire class, more items are ensured to be brought to the donation boxes placed in each classroom.
“I hope we will have continued success and hopefully beat what they collected last year,” Murphy said.
The NHS advisors have some students they know who are in need “shop” for items. “It’s almost like we make a little store. We do it in a science room, and each table is a food category,” Geschwindt said, “and we let them take what they need.”