From October 2nd through October 27th, Oakdale High School is conducting a food drive where students are encouraged to bring in as many non-perishable items as they can spare. Each year Oakdale has a food drive to help less fortunate students in need across Maryland. Ms. Erin Porter, an English teacher, is collecting the non-perishable items to give to the Maryland Food Bank at the end of the month. The Maryland food bank crafts the food drive into a contest, calling it the “Kids Helping Kids” contest. The school that brings in the most food in their county wins.

Last year, Oakdale collected 627 pounds of non-perishable items. This year, Ms. Porter hopes to surpass last year’s mark, as best evidenced by food donations set up at the football game against Linganore on October 6. A nearly sold out game, of course, increases the amount of donations.

Ms. Porter took charge of collecting donations, as she realizes the food drive is very important. She explained: “1 in 6 kids in Maryland is food insecure. It’s important we help where we can.” Food insecurity is defined as not knowing where your next meal may come from, the Maryland food bank’s toughest problem to combat, which is the hope with this contest.

At the end of the contest, all food collected from Oakdale will stay in the county, going to various charitable organizations. Last year, all 627 pounds went to the Frederick Rescue Mission. The Frederick Rescue Mission is a Christ-centered ministry designed to help recovering homeless or addicts, provide food to the hungry, and clothing and furniture to the needy, according to their website.

Olivia Schwiegerath, a senior at Oakdale high school, donated a couple of canned items to the food drive. When she discovered why the food drive is held, and where the food goes, she wanted to be apart of the solution: “Less fortunate students need this food more than me or my family do. It’s sad to think that there are children in Maryland who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.”

You can still donate to the food drive by giving non-perishable items to your first block teacher or to Ms. Porter in room A225 by October 27th.