by Bea Peterson
On Sunday afternoon, October 7, Dianne Hosterman of the HACA Food Closet looked a little overwhelmed as the bags and boxes were unloaded from the big yellow school bus. Lauren Davendonis, Madison Greenwood, Joyce Brewer, Sam Brewer and Janet Deluca unloaded bag after bag after bag of canned and boxed foods. Matt Brewster, Drew Phillips and Levi Brewster carried in the boxes loaded with foodstuffs. Soon the floor was covered with almost 125 bags and 45 boxes of everyday food items, essential to so many families in need.
[private]Dianne “guesstimated” that there was at least 6,000 pounds of peanut butter, jelly, mac and cheese, vegetables, soups, pasta, spaghetti sauce, etc., etc., etc. “This is the largest food drive we’ve ever had,” said Hosterman.
Organizer Joyce Brewer was a little concerned about how to pull it off. “Last year at the homecoming football game we asked everyone to bring canned goods instead of paying admission,” she said. This year the school is not charging admission to the games. Instead, she organized a drive in the school. The elementary and high school classroom that brought in the most items would win a pizza party. The idea worked! Mrs. Flemming’s kindergarten class brought in 93 items. Miss Grennan’s high school home room brought in 116 items. And the rest of the school helped fill the bus. Goods were also accepted at the football game, in downtown Hoosick Falls and at the SMA Cow Plop.
Dianne said the items were equivalent to a three month supply of goods purchased from the Food Coop. With the holidays coming on and cold weather setting in, all this food will be greatly appreciated.
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