The National Honor Society (NHS) organizes the canned food drive each year in early December, encouraging students to donate nonperishable food items during homeroom. To boost participation, all students are encouraged to donate nonperishable and canned foods, with a donut party for the winning homeroom that donates the most food.

The drive is one of the many service initiatives that represent the pillars of NHS: leadership, service, scholarship, and character.

“We’re doing something for a specific part of the community, like we painted pumpkins for the elderly at Ennis Court. It’s really just the philanthropy of it,” said Audrey McNulty, the NHS president.

NHS members are chosen for their well-roundedness and for striving to do good for the community through various projects and events, whether large or small.

​Prior to the week of the food drive, the members of the NHS create an informational flyer and hold a meeting to finalize the logistics. McNulty leads the plan to ensure that all 40 members get the word out about the food drive. Large, brightly colored posters are also displayed around the school to draw attention to the cause and motivate students to contribute. The largest one was hand-painted by NHS members and is located on the second floor, near the art department.

​The annual food drive started on Dec. 1 and initially ran through Dec. 5. It was later extended through Dec. 10 to increase the potential number of donations. During the week of the food drive, all donated canned goods are given to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank for people in need of food during the holidays.

The NHS held a planning meeting on Nov. 11, with members divided into groups who decorated food donation boxes with a Christmas theme. These boxes are located on easily accessible floors and corners of the school, where students and staff members can donate to the food drive.

​Throughout the school week, the daily announcements mention the food drive to remind students to bring in canned goods for the next day.

The organizers emphasise the educational value of the drive, viewing it as a way to teach students the importance of giving back.

“I announce it and tell them that it’s for a good cause, and I have offered to match what the students bring in,” said Shannon Dunn, a Lakewood High School teacher. “Food drives are important because you need to take a look at the giving, take a look at the needy, and you are paying it forward.”

​All food collected during the week is donated to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which helps provide meals to people experiencing food insecurity during the holiday season. Students are encouraged to donate any items they can, ranging from canned goods to boxes of mac and cheese.

The food drive is also a great way to teach students that even a little donation can make a huge difference—especially during the winter months. “I think it’s a good time in the year to sort of reflect on how you can help, and take that moment to help someone in need,” said Dayna Hansen, the NHS advisor.

​Hansen added that hosting the drive is important for the school’s culture. “It helps to reflect on helping others and being collaborative within your school community, to come together and help one another,” she said.

Lakewood is well known for these kinds of projects and hopes to continue the annual food drive, possibly expanding its scope or running multiple drives throughout the year to collect even more donations in the future.