Eleven Gainesville-Hall County schools collected 6,678 pounds of food during the 2nd annual School Food Drive for Hunger Challenge.
The campaign, a partnership between Georgia Mountain Food Bank and Smile Doctors Braces by Wilson Orthodontics, rallied together local schools to fight hunger in the community. Between Oct. 23 and Nov. 10 the schools competed to collect the most pounds of food to help GMFB go into the holiday season strong and well-stocked to meet the increased demand for food.
Chestnut Mountain Creative School of Inquiry took home first place this year, collecting more than 1,200 pounds of food. In second and third place were Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy and Lanier Elementary.
“We are so grateful for these students who are learning at a young age the importance of assisting others in need,” said Kay Blackstock, executive director at GMFB. “This was an incredibly successful partnership, and we are thankful to move into the holiday season with an additional 6,678 pounds of food, which will allow us to provide more than 5,500 meals.”
Chestnut Mountain Creative School of Inquiry will receive the coveted Champions Bowl and a Kona Ice party, provided by Smile Doctors Braces by Wilson Orthodontics. Other participating schools included:
- East Hall Middle School
- Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy
- Flowery Branch High
- Gainesville Middle
- Lanier Elementary
- Mount Vernon Exploratory
- Sardis Enrichment
- Spout Springs School of Enrichment
- West Hall High
- World Language Academy
“Community food drives are critical for Georgia Mountain Food Bank to meet its mission, so we are pleased to be help bring local students together toward the common goal of helping feed our hungry neighbors,” said Ron Wilson, DMD. “We are grateful this partnership not only helps raise awareness of this real issue in our community but also helps the Food Bank get more food into the hands of those who need it, especially during the holiday season.”
