The Alternative Press

“The online portion opens up a whole new community to us,” says Russ Raffay, Mendham High School teacher and Service Club co-advisor. “Students email their grandparents and other family members and friends and ask them to be part of the competition. It has been a great way to extend the drive and bring in even more quality food donations.” 

 

Students in the school’s Service Club conduct the Annual Food Drive Contest - a friendly competition between a number of teams at school, to see who can raise the most food to help the hungry in Morris County. In addition, there is a competition between classes based on both the quality and quantity of food, with the top five classes winning an all-you-can-eat pizza party at school. Last year the Service Club donated $8,000 worth of food.

 

To help support the drive, which runs from February 4 through February 17, 2013, participants can purchase food online or make a traditional donation and bring food into school. To make an online contribution, go to www.YouGiveGoods.com/2013MendhamHSServiceClubFoodDrive , pick your team and visit their Drive Page.  Donors can select the type of food they want to purchase and it will be delivered directly to the food pantry after the contest is over.

 

The traditional food collection portion of the drive stops at the end of the school day on Friday, February 15, but participants can still donate online up to the last minute on Sunday, February 17.  According to Patrick O’Neill, CEO of YouGiveGoods, “Last year Mendham students continued to compete with each other online right up until the midnight deadline. It is exciting for them to watch the food totals grow and the winning teams emerge.”

 

Mr. Raffay adds that food pantries are in desperate need of supplies this year, especially after Hurricane Sandy depleted supplies. “It is good to get the students involved in caring for those who need it.” 

 

YouGiveGoods is based in Mendham, NJ and is operated by a group of people who strongly believe in the importance of helping others in need.  The company’s website, YouGiveGoods.com, was developed to make it easier for people and organizations to set up and run in-kind charity drives, including food drives and animal shelter drives.  The site provides free services to charities and makes it simpler for people to donate goods to the charities they want to support.  The innovative technology platform is designed to inspire people to give and help others.  Visit YouGiveGoods.com