Last
year’s food drive competition between Ellis Tech and Windham
Tech was so successful that we decided to open it up to the three
other tech schools that are on this side of the Connecticut river.
Grasso Tech, Norwich Tech and Cheney Tech all welcomed the idea
of making their own food drives part of a big competition. We
continued the tradition of having the internal competition of
shops competing against each other as did most of the other schools.
The Challenge began on January 16th and lasted for two weeks.
Each morning students brought in food to be counted by members
of the S.T.A.R.S. team. At the end of everyday an announcement
was made relaying the internal and external standings. Every
shop brought in something. This year Manufacturing Technology
swept first place bringing in 1113 pounds of food. Our smallest
shop, Architectural Technology, came in second place with 410
pounds of food. The winning shop not only gets to have a movie/pizza
party, but also wins six points towards our end of the year field
day event.
All the schools agreed upon counting
the food by the weight. One point was given for each pound of food.
Nothing other then food was allowed to be counted. By the end of
the competition Windham Tech had brought in 2,700 pounds of food.
Despite our perseverance we were not able to win this year’s
event. Ellis Tech walked away with first place bringing in 4786
pounds of food. Not only do they get the honor of first place but
they get to hold onto the plaque that was made, by our own carpentry
students, to recognize this event. Norwich Tech came in second
place with 3567 pounds. Grasso Tech led for most of the competition
but fell to 4th place in the end with 2656 pounds. Cheney Tech
rounded it all out with 1358 pounds of food. Combined, we brought
in over 15,000 pounds of food.
Each school picked their own local
donation centers to bring the food. Several trips were made in
Willimantic, delivering food to The Covenant Soup Kitchen, The
Holy Family Shelter, and Catholic Charities and Family Services.
Diane Lambert, site supervisor of Catholic Charities, was so thankful
for the donations. “As quickly as it comes in it is going
out” she stated. When food was dropped of last on January
31st, the shelves were empty. The winter months are tough for families,
and more are seeking assistance.
The Food
Drive Challenge is a way for students to give back and have fun
at the same time. The essence of competition serves to benefit
those most in need. By making it a contest we get to fulfill that
competitive edge that lies with in us. The quest to defeat Ellis
Tech next year will be foremost on our minds. Next year’s
competition should blow this year’s away.
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