By Emma VanWinkle, LO’T News Reporter

The Student Hunger Drive is a competition between schools in the Quad Cities to see which school can donate the most cans of food. However, it is more than a competition. The Student Hunger Drive is a way to give back to the community and help those in need. Interact Club advisor Lanae Harding explains that this year, the club learned that 1 in 5 children in the Quad Cities go without meals. In just the US, 5 million pounds of food is thrown away every year. 

The Student Hunger Drive donates all the cans they get to the Riverbend Food Bank, which distributes the cans to those in need. Students can take their cans to room J333 or J327, or to the raffle located by the “M.”

The Student Hunger Drive is organized by the Interact Club, which is run completely by the students! Thomas Potter, a junior involved in Interact Club and the Student Hunger Drive, says, “Cooperation, leadership, and encouragement are all traits used by students in this wonderful experience in helping those that need it most.” 

Students involved work very hard to think of new and creative ways to raise money and collect food. This year, 20+ students went trick or treating in the rain and collected $400 in donations. There are also staff competitions, and the Moline Fire Department and Police Department are even competing with each other! 

Students who are interested in joining Interact Club or helping with the Hunger Drive can talk to Ms. Sylvia Salinas, Ms. Lanae Harding, or come to the meetings in the library at 7:30 am on Thursdays. 

Donate while you can, because the Hunger Drive ends November 17th. The club thanks everyone who has donated to Moline!