Every Niles West homeroom is competing in the annual canned food drive, where students can send in money or cans to their homeroom teachers. The food drive is hosted by Peer Leaders, NHS and Homeroom Mentors from Nov.13-17. All proceeds go directly to the Niles Township Food Pantry. To register your cans, you send them to your homeroom teacher where they will record how many cans or money your homeroom has brought in. One dollar is equivalent to two cans.

The competition is a big deal between the homeroom teachers and students, as prizes are offered to the top three homerooms with the most cans collected.

“To make it fun and to get a little more skin in the game, we have created prizes. The top three homerooms that win can choose between a pizza party, an ice cream bar or donuts. Anthony Serafini is in the lead right now with 60 dollars, so 120 cans. Brad Wilson and Serafini usually go neck and neck every year,” counselor and sponsor of Peer Leaders Joyce VanAlstin said.

Freshman Mentors contribute to the food drive as well this year. They encourage the freshman class to donate as much money or cans as they can. Freshman Mentors and NHS both collect the canned goods or money and deliver it to the drop-off location, the hallway right outside of Door 1. Mentor leaders specifically facilitate the collection of items, inform their assigned freshman homerooms of updates and distribute flyers.

“As a mentor leader, I make sure everything runs accordingly and [try to] lead the group to make an impact. As mentors, we are people who serve as models for not only the freshman but the entire school, so it feels appropriate that we help lead this effort,” junior Yohanna Endashaw said.

As another host of the food drive, NHS encourages and motivates individual groups of students to donate to the food drive by going to their homerooms throughout the week of the food drive. NHS promotes it in front of students, peers and friends, which brings attention to the drive.

“As the president [of NHS], I help communicate to all NHS students their responsibilities. I’ve also volunteered to go to homerooms throughout the week, [as well]. [NHS] is always looking for new ways to give back to the community, and the food drive was one of them. It’s a way for students to get service hours while promoting a good cause that can benefit many people,” senior Asma Patel said.

As the food drive comes to an end, bring in as much money or cans as you can to help your homeroom win the competition!

“It warms your heart when you contribute to those in need,” VanAlstin said.