For the first time, the SGA organized the RHS Canned Food Drive, which ran from Nov. 6 to Nov. 20.

Each grade had a designated donation box located in front of the main office. This year, students collected 309 cans and teachers and clubs donated 87 cans, with a total of 396 cans. This is a significant increase from many of the food drives in past years, when students typically collected fewer than 100 cans. The SGA also gave a check for $1000 for food gift cards.

The senior class collected the most with 88 cans and received $100 from the SGA fund to plan their own class-wide event. The $100 incentive was to encourage students to be more involved and raise awareness regarding the City of Rockville, which needs as much help as possible.

Once the canned food was collected, families picked it up or got it delivered. Students volunteered to help deliver the food to people’s homes Nov. 24.

In previous years, the food was given to Manna Food Center, which covers all of Montgomery County. However, this year distribution remained centered in the local Rockville community through City of Rockville, RHSa�� new sponsor.

This organization, which manages food distribution based on income, approached SGA advisor Rundhammer about the Annual Holiday Drive in the summer. Without the help of City of Rockville’s Annual Holiday Drive, 564 households would have gone without a Thanksgiving meal last year.

“The canned food drive is beneficial. It teaches the students what it means to help out and realize not everyone is as fortunate as them. The students who are less fortunate realize that there are people out there who want to help,” Rundhammer said.

The canned food drive is a popular holiday community service project. National Honor Society (NHS) and National Spanish Honor Society (NSHS) both planned to do canned food drives as well.

“I appreciate their good intentions, but I imagine that three food drives running at the same time wouldn’t really generate any more food. Too many at one time can be a lot of work for not a lot of reward,” sophomore class president Adam Sarsony said.

Instead, NHS helped the SGA’s canned food drive as their November service chapter. Since each member was asked to bring in at least one can of food, they estimated a total of 50 cans. NSHS is planning on doing a fundraiser that benefits the victims of the hurricane in the Philippines later this year.

“The canned food drive is a wonderful community service project that involves school and community spirit,” Principal Billie-Jean Bensen said.