By Matthew Bilmes / Rockville High School Creative Writing Class
There will be a food drive for the Hockanum Valley Community Council Food Pantry during spirit week, Oct. 7 to 11, at Rockville High School.
But this isn’t any ordinary food drive. This is also a competition. The class that collects the most cans, the freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors, will receive $500 for prom from the student activities fund.
The hope is that by making it a competition, even more students will participate than usual.
“I think it’s a great incentive,” says senior, Jackie Ose.
There’s a catch though. In order for any of the classes to be eligible for the prize, they have to collect a minimum of 500 cans, to ensure the Hockanum Valley Food Pantry gets plenty of items.
The competitive juices are already flowing between the classes. In the senior lounge, there’s a thermometer marking the amount of cans collected so far. On top of that, the smack talking has already begun.
“The juniors are going to win,” says Erin Gonyeau, with a look of confidence on her face.
Students aren’t the only ones getting involved. Mrs. Elizabeth Barr, the head of the science department and advisor to the senior class, created a giant thermometer to track the senior’s progress. It’s currently hanging in the school’s senior lounge.
Despite the competition, no one at Rockville is losing sight of the real reason for the food drive.
“There are a lot of people in need in America, even in Vernon,” says senior, Brian Le. “It’s important that we help them.”
Whoever wins, it is sure to be an exciting and charitable spirit week at Rockville High School.
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