POCKETS OF NEED: Middle schools to the rescue

2 Crossroads collect truckloads of food for township.

By: Melissa Hayes
   Editor’s note: Part of an occasional series focusing on issues of hunger and financial need in South Brunswick.
   The South Brunswick Food Pantry was empty and in dire need of supplies Wednesday morning. That was until the Crossroads middle schools called and said they had donations to be picked up.
   What happened next was big.
   LouAnne Wolf, director of social services for the township, was astounded with the truckloads of food the middle school students were able to collect.
   "It’s major food — major, major, major food!" she excitedly said.
   Ms. Wolf said that when she sent someone from the township to get the food he returned with a pickup truck that was filled with groceries — and then said he would have to make four to five more return trips to Crossroads South alone.
   "They went above and beyond," Ms. Wolf said.
   Many of the district’s schools have been collecting food for the holiday season over the past few weeks and Ms. Wolf said she is more than appreciative, but she could not believe the amount of food Crossroads South was able to donate.
   "Crossroads South just got so much more," she said.
   Jennifer Matsumoto, a language arts teacher and moderator to the student council said the drive has been going on since Dec. 1 and they were able to almost triple their efforts from last year.
   "It was pretty impressive," she said. The students were able to bring in more than 7,800 canned or boxed goods, she said.
   There was some competition involved. Of the 11 units in the school, the unit to bring in the most canned goods received an ice cream party courtesy of the student council.
   "The Gamma unit brought in over 3,000 items," Ms. Matsumoto said. "They by far killed everyone. They had 23 cans per student; most of the others were 6 cans per student."
   Ms. Matsumoto said there was friendly competition between the homeroom classes as well.
   "I think the teachers get them really riled up," she said.
   Ms. Matsumoto said she felt timing also played a large role.
   "We usually do our food drive after Thanksgiving and I think that’s key because definitely all the shelves are bare and sometimes you buy an extra can of cranberries or something," she said.
   As much as Ms. Matsumoto was excited by the students’ efforts she was also glad the food drive had come to an end.
   "It filled up my whole classroom, it was kind of interesting to teach today," she said Wednesday..