Bus of food stops at Moses Lake Food Bank

MOSES LAKE — A school bus and two trucks delivered more than 12,000 cans of food to Moses Lake Food Bank.

Moses Lake High School students collected them during their annual food drive, reaching a new record of twice their goal amount.

“It’s amazing. It’s beyond our wildest dreams,” said Associated Student Body Advisor and English teacher Debbie Banda.

Several students unloaded the bus of food after school Thursday. The students utilized all exits, including emergency exits. Boxes were visibly stacked to the roof.

“I just think it’s cool that we more than doubled our highest goal,” said senior Tessa Hartsock, 17. “I didn’t think we’d get that many cans.”

Jesus Guerrero’s class brought in the most cans, more than 4,300, Banda said. Mike Hofhein’s class was only trailing by three.

The goal for the entire drive was 6,000 cans. Instead, students brought in 12,013.

“Our school did outstanding, and I’m very proud of them,” said sophomore Haley Hoffman, 16.

Moses Lake Food Bank Assistant Executive Director Peny Archer also called the students’ work “outstanding.”

“These kids, this shows me a lot of organizational skills to be able to pull this off,” Archer said.

Students received incentives, depending on the amount of cans donated.

At 3,500 cans, students earned entertainment from a Wenatchee D.J., for a school dance. For each additional 500 cans donated, students received 10 minutes added to their lunch period.

Each class who collected 500 cans of food earned donuts and milk.

Banda said she believes the record in previous years was 6,500.