SLSD Food Drive Surpasses Record Number Of Items

Families in need are getting great relief this holiday season.

Photo provided. 

(Harrison, Oh.) - Families in need throughout the Southwest Local School District got a little relief this holiday season, thanks to the generosity of students, staff and community members. A record number of canned goods and other non-perishable food items – more than 25,000 – have been donated to the annual Food and Clothing drive. 

The effort, spear-headed by SLSD in partnership with the Harrison Mayor’s Fund, Christ’s Loving Hands, This City His City, and JTM Food Group, seeks to identify those in need in each community served by the school district and connect them with aid during the holidays. 

On Saturday, December 15, high school students, along with school and community leaders, distributed bags of non-perishable food items to local needy residents.  In addition, winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, toys, and space heaters were also available.

Thanks to such generosity, more than 90 local families each received 4 full bags of groceries, filled with staples and non-perishables. In addition, the families were given meat products, courtesy of JTM Food Group.  When it’s all said and done, the number of families helped will likely reach into the hundreds, as extra canned goods and clothing were shared with local pantries who serve SLSD communities.  

“In addition to the numerous service projects undertaken at the schools and, at times, by individual classes and student organizations, our entire student body participates in three major initiatives every year,” explains Superintendent John C. Hamstra. 

The district-wide collaborations are intended to benefit the community as well as to develop empathy, giving back to the community, ownership and leadership.  The projects help enhance the students’ social growth, a mission of Southwest Local School District.  

“This is a wonderful project and holiday season tradition that ties our students to their community,” Hamstra adds. “They can see the direct correlation between their efforts and how it helps others.”

It also connects the schools with their community as many individuals bring items to the school for the collection effort. 

WCPO Channel 9 News was on hand, broadcasting live from the Distribution Day festivities. View their report at this link: https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/harrison-students-spread-holiday-cheer-in-annual-canned-food-drive