The M-A Canned Food Drive (CFD) distributed a record-breaking 420,336 pounds of food during its annual Distribution Day (D-Day) on Saturday. This year marks the highest total amount of food raised in M-A CFD’s history. With a goal of 300,000 pounds, the drive exceeded expectations by 40% and collected an impressive 68% more cans than last year’s CFD.
Organized by Leadership, the CFD mobilizes students throughout November and early December to collect donations. Students set up in front of local grocery stores and asked for cans and checks to give back to the community in partnership with Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP).
Leadership students arrived at EHP at 6:30 a.m. for D-Day, upbeat and eager to help. They unloaded can-filled boxes and set up assembly lines to sort the collected produce into color-coded bags. Soon, rows of neatly-organized bags covered EHP’s parking lot. “We work across all three periods to organize the drive, whether that’s social media, coordinating with the actual grocery stores, or the logistics of it all,” senior and organizer Aarii Keswani said.
“I think anybody should participate in a Canned Food Drive,” sophomore Leadership student Lily Hacket said. “It’s just a really full circle moment.”
Families had started lining up long before M-A students arrived, and by 8:30 a.m., they were lined up around the block, and food distribution was underway. Students, staff, alumni, parents, and other community members piled bags and boxes filled to the brim with items ranging from food to hygiene necessities. Volunteers then brought and unloaded them into each family’s car.
“Distributing to the actual families and seeing the smiles on their faces really makes everything so worth it,” Keswani said.
The distribution system quickly picked up speed. Volunteers cycled through various roles rapidly, and every participant found a way to contribute, whether it was stacking boxes or handing out egg cartons. Coffee, water, and donuts were provided to help keep all volunteers energized.
“This is magical being right here, watching everybody work together, it’s the idea of community coming together,” history teacher Ellen Jacobson said.
The morning celebrated the record-setting drive, and highlighted the ongoing need to support the community. The need for food is more demanding now than in the past, as reduced food stamp benefits have left many local families struggling to meet rising grocery costs. “Especially this year, because there’s been a lot of concerns about the reduction in SNAP benefits, I know that there’s more of a need for food,” Keswani said.
Despite the record intake, this year’s D-Day proceeded faster than expected, with all food distributed by 11:00 a.m.
“Leadership takes a lot of time to get this ready and make sure everything runs smoothly, it’s just a big team cooperation,” sophomore Olivia Rodgers said. With diligent planning and substantial effort, the CFD was successful once more.
