Over 350,000. That is how many people in San Diego alone are insecure with their food and not knowing when their next meal will be.
In the face of this crisis, Poway High held a food drive for non-perishable foods such as canned beans, ramen and canned vegetables, sending them to Four Community Care.
The organization, in addition to others such as the San Diego Food Bank, are working to provide food for those in need, with groups of volunteers handing it out to seniors and families who cannot afford it.
“I love it,” said ASB advisor Erica Rangel. “I think it’s a super fun way to give back to the community.”
The food drive is helping to combat the San Diego food crisis at hand, which has caused more than 350,000 citizens of San Diego to be food insecure and unable to find food reliably and safely, according to the San Diego Hunger Coalition.
Because of this crisis at hand, people that are fortunate enough to not have these problems can contribute and help those in need by supporting this cause.
Competitions are being held across classrooms at Poway High to see which class could bring in the most non-perishable food items. All the teachers participate in this fundraiser but some are more competitive than others.
“I’m very excited for the competition. We’re going to destroy the competition this year,” history teacher Curt Lewis said.
Lewis, who has been a very big competitor over the food drives every year is passionate about both the purpose of the competition and the competing aspect of it, pushing his students to bring as many cans as possible.
No child or family should have to worry about going hungry. Even a single can is enough to help someone in need.
“The Poway High canned food drive is an important event connecting our school to the community,” sophomore ASB member Kyle Sosnowski said.
He is passionate about giving back to the community and its contributors.