Schools

Dakota Collects 18,000 Cans for Kiwanis Food Baskets, Cougar Closet

Raising more than $5,000 and collecting almost 3,000 cans, the 2011 Dakota canned food drive was the most successful to date.

How many cans can a campus collect?

At , the answer is 18,004.

Last week, during the school's annual canned food drive, students, staff and administrators collected some 3,000 cans and more than $5,200 in monetary donations. With each dollar equal to three cans, the grand can total was 18,004.

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"We have a drive every single year and we set a goal," said Karley Rivard, senior class president. "Last year, we collected 12,000 cans. We wanted to do that or better. We wanted to make a difference in the community. Gleaners gave out 3.8 million pounds of food last year. There shouldn't be that in an urban community where families are so connected."

Using social media, daily announcements and walking reminders in the form of T-shirts reading, "When was the last time you went to bed hungry?" Rivard said the senior class ensured donations continued day after day by keeping the drive in the forefront of students' minds.

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Of the 3,000 cans collected during the drive, some 2,500 will be donated to the Clinton Township Kiwanis for use in the group's holiday food baskets.

"In the next week and a half, (Kiwanis) will pick up donations from 15 schools in Chippewa Valley and L'Anse Creuse," said Dr. William Lakin, chairman of Kiwanis' annual food drive. "We'll use these canned goods to fill baskets that we'll deliver to 500 families in Macomb County."

If Kiwanis has more food than they need locally they will donate the rest to Gleaners Food Bank.

The remaining 500 cans and $5,200 raised will stay on Dakota's campus by way of the , the community food pantry located in the . The cans will stock the pantry through the holiday season, while the monetary donations will ensure the pantry shelves stay full through the school year.

"We were very nervous that we wouldn't match last year's donations, but the kids really stepped up," said senior class advisor Gretchen Vermiglio.

Senior Jake Bireescu, 17, donated $90 and 10 cans during the drive, the most of any student at Dakota.

"I've always been loved and given food," Bireescu said. "I have a job and make good money for my age, and there are 11,000 families on welfare. I figured I'd do my part and help out."

A total of 58 classrooms participated in the drive, with the top three classrooms each contributing more than 40 cans per student. These classes, belonging to Pat O’Connor, Stacey Comoford, and Stephanie Galba, will receive a hot breakfast in recognition of their efforts toward the drive's success.

"I have wonderful kids, and the staff really stepped up, too," said O'Connor, who serves as co-advisor with Vermiglio. "They matched their students' donations. We have a very committed staff." 

For more information on the Kiwanis food drive, email Lakin at kiwanisfoodrive@yahoo.com.


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