By: Cole Kell 

     Recently Eisenhower Middle/High School was involved in the food drive run by the Key Club. In past years, the food drive was during the holiday season but instead, this year, it took place during Thanksgiving. Mr. Leonhardt, who is the advisor, organized the food drive.  

     The Squire talked to Mr. Leonhardt about why he switched the food drive this year from Christmas to Thanksgiving. According to Mr. Leonhardt, “There is another organization in the school district that can provide food for local families during the Christmas season. In doing our food drive in time for Thanksgiving, we are able to provide food for families when other help is not available.”  

     During the holiday season students would bring certain food items to any classroom of their choice to get a fun day before Thanksgiving break. In order for students to get a free day, they had to bring in Thanksgiving food. When students bring in the food, Key Club members went around and collected the food. Then, they gave the classroom the coordinating colorful turkey feather.  

     There were six colorful feathers in order to get a free day: Red, blue, yellow, orange, purple and white. Under these five colors are certain food items students needed to bring in. For the red feather, they had to bring in three boxes of stuffing; for blue, they had to bring in five canned vegetables; for the yellow, they had to bring in three of each mashed potatoes and gravy; for the orange, they had to bring in three items of each for dessert; for the purple, they had to bring five items each of dinner items. Lastly, for the white, they had to bring five items of each for food and hygiene items, like boxes of cereal, pop tarts, chips, aluminum foil, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, paper products, and can openers. Of course, students could also bring in any other items that were not listed.  

     A successful food drive faces some challenges. Mr. Leonhardt stated that the only challenge for the food drive this year was doing it on short notice. With the students and adults helping in the building, they were able to pull it off. Mr. Leonhardt determines what the food drive needs by collecting everything they need for a Thanksgiving dinner, along with any other food items that people could use. Mr. Leonhardt has been involved with Key Club and the food drive for three years now. He is planning to do the food drive next and every year to come, with no major changes planned for the next food drive.   

     Mr. Leonhardt thanks the students and staff that donated food and the students who helped to collect and organize everything. If you want to help with the food drive next year, you can talk to Mr. Leonhardt or you can join Key club to help with the food drive and any other activities that will come.