Wheeling Central Catholic High School Food Drive Hauls In More Than 9 Tons — and Counting
Niamh Coomey Trending
Wheeling Central Catholic High School students exceeded their goal for canned food donations Saturday, pulling in over 18,000 pounds -- and counting -- during their 54th annual drive.
Last year, the school was able to collect around 17,500 pounds. This year, after all the late bags are weighed, they expect to collect more than 20,000 pounds, according to coordinator Maggie Espina.
The canned food will be donated to Catholic Charities to help stock their shelves for the coming winter months and fill holiday baskets for families in need.
Students, staff and faculty ventured out into Wheeling's neighborhoods Tuesday and split off in groups to place empty paper bags on doorsteps for collecting canned and non-perishable goods.
After picking the filled bags up from doorsteps Saturday morning, students and volunteers sorted and counted the items at several locations across town. Students and staff then packed them in crates and made trips to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church to drop them off to be transported to Catholic Charities.
Principal Rebecca Sancomb said it feels amazing seeing all the donations come in.
"Every year I think 'oh gosh, I hope everybody gives this year' and every year the bags just start piling in and we're so grateful for such a giving community in Wheeling," Sancomb said.