Rebekah Harrell
Feature Editor
The annual canned food drive is one of the biggest events SHS contributes to during the holiday season. Leadership, NHS, Key Club, and other school clubs help encourage students to donate and also help with making the food boxes for families in the community.
This year there are many obstacles that Kiwanis has had to overcome in order to make the Christmas Basket program a success. One example is the lack of donations they have had due to school closures. This year they have been purchasing a lot of food that in past years have been donated.
Even though there have not been many donations this year, one local business has tried to help. Suburban Auto Groups have donated $15,000 to Kiwanis to purchase goods for the Christmas baskets and to help with all their lack of fundraising due to COVID-19.
“Due to COVID-19 we are unable to have other community members come help. We also are unable to run the food drives in the local schools. Because of this we are purchasing many items that in the past have been donated,” Kiwanis President, Cole Pritchard said.
Last year, SHS donated over 18,000 cans to the Christmas Basket program. Students also helped put together and organize the baskets for families.
Both staff and students are also missing the competition of the canned food drive.
“My favorite part of the canned food drive was the assembly congratulating the students for bringing in cans and money. I’m going to miss competing with my favorite, fellow teachers for that coveted first prize,” last year’s canned food drive winner Cherie Shields said.
While this year’s Christmas basket program may be challenging, the Kiwanis and the Sandy Fire Department are doing their best to make this year a success. The Sandy Fire Department is accepting donations including canned goods, money and/or toys to help with this year’s Christmas Basket Program.
The Pioneer Press 