The drive began last week and will wrap up on Friday. Legacy counselor Donna Short said the drive serves as a competition by grade level, driving the students to bring in more food. 

“The winner gets a movie and popcorn party,” Short said. “If they bring two cans each day, they can participate in the dress up day. Today is mismatched shoes day because we are ‘stomping out hunger.’”

Short said food drive updates are announced on their daily announcements.

“Right now, Kinder and first-grade are about fifty cans apart,” Short said. “It’s getting pretty intense.”

Short also has tables at the end of each grade’s hallway where the cans are displayed for students to see. She said that this gives students a visual representation of how their grade is doing.

“The kids really enjoy it,” Short said. “They understand that the point of this is serving our community.”

Short said that Upland Missions is more than just a food bank. She said they provide immediate clothing and food assistance to people in the West Lubbock community.

“Legacy, from as long as I understand, has been donating to Upland Missions,” Short said. “They serve a lot of our families, so that is another part of the motivation.”

Short explained that the dress up day themes all center around ways to conquer hunger.

“Thursday is ‘Don’t go hungry over the Holidays,’ so they will wear their favorite holiday shirt, Friday is ‘Don’t let kids go to bed hungry,’ so the kiddos can wear their pajamas, and last week we had camo day with ‘Don’t let hunger be hidden,’ and patriotic day with ‘Americans don’t let Americans go hungry,’” Short said.

Short explained that the teachers and administration have been addressing the Frenship Way throughout the drive.

“We are SERVING our community,” Short said. “We are volunteering, helping others, and taking our focus off of ourselves.”

Short said that the students have truly embraced the fact that they aren’t just dressing up during the canned food drive but that they are selflessly giving back to those around them.

“It just helps us to understand that we are a part of something bigger,” Short said. “Even during this time that feels chaotic, we can still come together to help other people.”