Kate Wutz, Director of Communications (208) 720-0681 kwutz@communityschool.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2013 SUN VALLEY, IDAHO — Community School students broke records last week with their largest food drive ever, collecting more than 1,500 pounds of non-perishable goods for The Hunger Coalition. Associate Director Naomi Spence said Thursday that the school’s donation was likely the largest in the coalition’s history. “It’s filling up our empty shelves!” she said. “It’s all really quality, healthy food, which is unusual. It seems like a lot of thought was put into these donations.” Spence said December is the beginning of “the hunger season,” when donations fall off and food banks’ stores and resources run low. As a result, many families go hungry during the holiday season and in the cold months thereafter. Spence said that thanks to Community School, The Hunger Coalition would be able to provide 1,187 more meals this winter than it would have without that donation. Head of School David Holmes said he was proud of “each and every one” of the students who donated to help hungry families, and Elementary School Head Janet Salvoni said the effort and spirit that went into the food drive this year was “unbelievable.” The fourth grade class donated the most of any grade, 230 items. They will enjoy the coveted “Golden Can Award” as a result, as well as a pizza party after break. Even the youngest Cutthroats, ages two through five, collected 111 cans this year — an average of three cans for every student. The school collected more than 1,700 items overall. “I was just stunned when I went around to each grade and saw the amount of support everyone put into this drive,” Salvoni said. “It is truly impressive. Everyone is to be congratulated for their incredible service on behalf of our neediest neighbors.” ###