The Huntington High School student government has “staying power.” The group has always been concerned with the less fortunate in the community and that same tradition continues today.
The names and faces may change from year to year as the teenage leaders graduate and move on to college and incoming freshmen fill out the ranks, but the mission of the organization remains unchanged.
Student government members are currently in the midst of their annual Stuff the Bus food drive campaign. The initiative benefit’s local food pantries, including the Huntington Food Council and the very active one at St. Hugh’s Church.
Students are collecting non-perishable items outside of Stop and Shop on Wall Street and King Kullen on New York Avenue in Huntington village over the course of several weekends between now and April 13.
Local residents shouldn’t be surprised to see students standing outside of the supermarkets. The teenagers will ask shoppers to donate non-perishable items on their way out of the store.
Local food banks especially need the following items: canned vegetables, canned soups, canned fruits, canned beans, spaghetti sauce, canned tuna, packaged mac/cheese, rice, pasta, cereal, jars of peanut butter, jars of jelly, bath soap, toothpaste and hot chocolate mix.
“On April 13, we will be loading all the collected goods onto a school bus and dropping items off at the food pantries,” said teacher David Moriarty, who along with fellow faculty member Danielle Raguzin serves as the student government’s advisor.
“Anyone who doesn’t shop at the two grocery stores where we are collecting, but would like to contribute can make donations into the drop-box just inside the main entrance to Huntington High School,” Mr. Moriarty said. Students can leave items with the teacher in his classroom.
Student government members will be out again from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates:
- King Kullen: Saturday, February 16 and Saturday, March 16
- Stop and Shop: Saturday, March 2, Sunday, March 10, Sunday, March 24 and Saturday, March 30
All food collected during the Stuff the Bus drive will stay in the community. Huntington Coach Corp. is donating the bus that will be “stuffed” and used to deliver the items to food pantries.
For more information or to pitch-in and help the drive send a message to Mr. Moriarty (dmoriarty@hufsd.edu) or Ms. Raguzin (draguzin@hufsd.edu).