CELINA, Ohio (WLIO) — Tri Star Career Compact topped its own record this afternoon during its annual “Pack the Pallet” food drive.
Students and staff collected more than 45,000 hygiene and food items, beating their goal of 40,000 and setting a school record. Over the past three decades, Tri Star students have donated more than 250,000 items to local families in need. This year’s donations will be split evenly between the CALL Food Pantry in Celina and Agape Ministries in St. Marys. Teachers say the students really stepped up this year, collecting items they themselves would want if they were in need.
“We did, you know, have a friendly little competition in house with this. And so we put different point values on items, because we know that these pantries do need some other items besides the canned and the box foods. And so that was kind of a way to stress that we need toiletries, baby food, baby formula and all of those things so that students would buy additional things that cost more money,” said Paula VanTilburg, assistant director of Tri Star Career Compact.
Staff say it’s important to teach students the value of giving back to their community so they carry that habit throughout their lives.
