MHS Food Drive Hits Record Numbers

When Mendham High School's Service Club's Advisors Jennifer Brown and Russ Raffay opened the annual food drive to more than just the English Department, they anticipated a modest increase in their totals. What they weren’t prepared for was the influx of hygiene products, cleaning products, drinks, snacks, desserts, pastas and canned goods to transform Raffay’s class into something out of an episode of Hoarders.

“If you could have seen my room,” Raffay said. “The place was just packed with items. And that was with four or five pick ups.”

Part of the increase is due to the competitive nature of some of the classes. “Nine out of the top ten classes in donations came from teachers who are also coaches,” Raffay said. “And there is a healthy competitive streak there.”

The traditional food drive was paired with an online component that extended the donation window through Superbowl weekend. “We actually received $1,400 in donations just during the Superbowl alone.”

All totaled the drive made over $8,000 worth of donations. “I got a great e-mail from the Chester Food Pantry. They are ecstatic, they don’t know what to do with all we brought,” Raffay said. “We also dropped off at St. Michael’s Outreach in Netcong that services western Morris County. They were in a situation where they were going into their bank account to go shopping for food and all of a sudden I showed up with this food. They said we were angles from wherever.”   

The Service Club has evolved over the years since it was founded by Barbara Nutt. “Service Club was her brainchild and we are the largest club in the school with 275 members,” Raffay said. “Most schools do have them now because colleges are looking for service.”

Raffay acknowledged that pizza party given to the winning class is a powerful motivator for your average high school kid, it was more than that or just being competitive that led to the drive’s success. "The kids here and the community in general are just so giving,” Raffay said. “Everyone is so generous and that is why programs like this succeed.”

Next up for the Service Club is a blood drive on February 24.