The final tally from this year’s food drive to help the Valley Food Bank is in and the numbers are truly astounding! The Buckley Community more than doubled the amount of food that’s been collected in any previous year. In total, over four tons of food was donated.

Foods: 9,293 lbs (rice, beans & cereal)
Canned foods: 1,405 lbs
Condiments: 82 lbs (beverages : 25 lbs baby formula/food: 45 lbs)

“One of the Valley Food Bank staff members who picked up the food said the supply of rice we donated would last them until Thanksgiving next year,” said Chris Braunschweiger, community service director. “I am so proud of the generosity our students, parents, faculty and staff showed by their overwhelming contributions.”

While all grades pitched in to make this drive such a huge success, juniors and seniors brought in more than half of the food collected.

Senior Mansour Al’Shaikh was instrumental in organizing his class’s efforts to surpass the amount of food they collected last year. “Even though this drive is a competition between classes, it wasn’t really about that. It was about helping people who are hungry and in need.”

In the Middle School, kudos goes to the 6th grade who donated more food than the 7th and 8th grade combined. A sincere thank you goes out to all faculty, staff and Lower School participants as well.

“When I saw all the food our students collected for the food drive piled up outside the administration building, I honestly got goose bumps,” said Upper School Assistant Principal Dina Figueroa. “I was so happy about our students’ accomplishment that I even took a picture of the food and sent it to my friends and family who were all amazed! The overwhelming success of the food drive was a beautiful reminder of how generous, loving, and supportive our community is.”