The staff, students and their parents of McMichael Middle School made possible a food drive that culminated Thursday with delivery of more than 60 food boxes for families.
Students at McMichael competed to donate the most food items. The winning homeroom would receive a pizza party.
On Thursday morning, McMichael staff passed out the boxes as cars lined up along the north side of the campus. Typical Thanksgiving non-perishable items are being distributed such as canned vegetables, sugar, vegetable oil, stuffing, cake mixes, pie fillings, as well as other dry goods such as beans and rice.
Kimberly Pineda, a social worker at McMichael, organized the Thanksgiving food drive.
“Most of our students have siblings on other NISD campuses, so not only does the food drive help feed McMichael students but other NISD students as well,” Pineda said. “The Thanksgiving drive would not have been possible without the students, parents, staff and the McMichael PTO.”
Pineda said multiple groups donate food regularly in Nacogdoches, and families can reach out to the local providers as well as any NISD social worker.
Some local groups include Perritte Methodist Church, GETCAP Head Start, GODTEL Ministries, First United Methodist Church, East Texas Food Bank, Davis Memorial Church of God in Christ, Hope Food Bank, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Harvest House Food Pantry.
“This year we are able to help about 60 families,” Pineda said. “However, the need to alleviate hunger is much greater and is always present.”