Point Pleasant Borough High School receives Foodbank's Spirit of Giving Award

The commercial onslaught surrounding the holiday season tends to belie the true meaning of the holidays. A constant media barrage that promises that possession of the hottest new toys and latest electronics will somehow make you a better individual, can distort the fact that the holidays are actually about giving.

Students in the Point Pleasant Borough School district got into the holiday spirit by conducting food and toy drives in all four district schools.

For the second year in a row Nellie Bennett Elementary School, Memorial Middle School and Point Pleasant Borough High School each participated in the Foodbank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties’ Holiday Hunger Challenge.

The Foodbank’s Holiday Hunger Challenge is a competitive food drive held in schools throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Participating schools “win” the challenge by donating the most pounds of food in relation to student enrollment.

For donating over one and a half tons food collectively, both Memorial Middle School and Point Pleasant Borough High School were presented with the Foodbank’s Spirit of Giving Award.

The Spirit of Giving award recognizes schools that have demonstrated outstanding spirit, commitment and enthusiasm toward the cause of fighting hunger in their local communities. 

The Spirit of Giving Award plaques were presented at a special ceremony held at the Foodbank’s warehouse on Route 66 in Neptune on Thursday December 9th.

“When students participate in altruistic activities like the Holiday Hunger Challenge, everybody wins,” said Point Pleasant Borough High School Principal Linda Rocco who attended the ceremony along with challenge coordinator and Student Council Advisor Katrina Salvatoriello.

“The obvious benefit of the challenge is that more families in need will have food this holiday season,” said Ms. Rocco. “Maybe not as tangible is the benefit our students realize by becoming more aware of social and economic issues.”

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Memorial Middle School’s food drive coordinator Ms. Courtney Kays and Student Council advisor Mrs. Tracey Ferm. Ms. Kays and Mrs. Ferm were on hand to accept the middle school’s plaque.

According to the Foodbank, 85 schools throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties participated in the challenge, collectively raising over 68,000 pounds of food. In addition, the Foodbank’s Pounds for Dollars program raised $14,000.

“A dollar goes a long way with the Pounds for Dollars program,” said the Foodbank’s Holiday Hunger Challenge Coordinator Ms. Lori McMahon.  “With every dollar raised, the Foodbank is able to purchase four pounds of food or the equivalent to three meals.”

Ms. McMahon said that with need increasing on a daily basis, hunger is becoming an increasingly serious issue in our area and the donations are need now more than ever.

“Over the past five years, demand for assistance from the Foodbank has increased by over 80 percent,” said Ms. McMahon.  “We are so grateful that so many schools answered the call for help and donated so generously.”

Although Nellie Bennett Elementary School was not recognized for their participation in the Challenge, the school donated an impressive 500 pounds of food during the Challenge’s duration from September 27th to November 21st.

Combined, the three schools donated over two tons of food to the Foodbank where it will be distributed to local hunger agencies to serve our area’s families in need.

“I am so pleased that our students and staff embraced the Challenge so enthusiastically,” said Superintendent of Schools Vincent S. Smith. “The time of year coupled with difficult economic times has put so many in precarious situations. What we give is what matters,” he continued. “And giving does not have to be financially-dependant, donating your time and attention is often just as valuable if not more so. I promise no matter what you give, what you gain in terms of character growth will be exponentially more significant.”