ASB hosts annual schoolwide food drive

The school’s annual Thanksgiving food drive ended last Friday, December 11 with donations gathered from second period classes.

According to ASB Vice President junior Jack Montgomery, the food that the school raised went straight to the Second Harvest Food Bank, which in turn distributed it to people in the community who needed it the most.

“I know that Second Harvest is always very appreciative that we do the food drive at LAHS,” ASB member senior Isabelle “Izzie” Fisher said.

According to Jack, the food drive has always been a success; last year, ASB raised over 12,000 pounds of food.

As of press time, Jack projects the school collecting 13,000 pounds, which falls short of the school record of 15,634 pounds set in 2005 but surpasses last year’s amount.

ASB extended the food drive to the local community by standing in front of Draeger’s in downtown Los Altos, handing out fliers and asking customers to pick up a few extra cans to donate to Second Harvest. ASB members collected 2,500 pounds of food and monetary donations from Draeger’s customers.

Like last year, there was a schoolwide competition to see which second period class collected the most amount of food. The top three classes were those of social studies teacher Robert Freeman, math teacher Steve Cochran and physics teacher

Adam Randall coming in with 3,448 pounds, 611 pounds and 551 pounds, respectively. All three classes will be rewarded. Freeman’s class will receive a pizza party and the other two classes will receive doughnuts.

“We always expect Mr. Freeman to pull through with a huge contribution,” Izzie said.
Unlike last year, One Dollar for Life (ODFL) did not match the school’s donation, so it was up to the students themselves to gather all the food and try to break last year’s record.

Jack, however, praised the school’s contribution.

“We are in the midst of tough economic times, and there is a greater need now,” Jack said. “LAHS is a very generous community, and the food drive went really well.”