With the holiday season fast approaching, Lake Stevens High School is coming together for its annual food drive. Aiming to support families within the Lake Stevens community, students and staff will be donating food to make a difference in the community.
The food drive runs from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13.
LSHS’s annual food drive is very important to building up and taking care of our community and making Lake Stevens a place where everyone feels cared for.
The food drive is a way for students to help families and peers in our community who may be struggling, especially during this season. Every donation —whether it’s a can, a box, or a bag —makes a difference.
“I think people don’t realize how important the food they donate is, so it’s just, yeah, it’s important we feed a lot of the people in our community. And what do you think it means to help those who are struggling to get enough food”, junior ASB President Ana Joehnk explained.
Many students are unaware of the impact that a few cans of food could have on a local family. Poverty in Lake Stevens fluctuates between 7 and 8%, meaning that this percentage of residents lacks a reliable source of food, which results in food insecurity.
In addition to raising awareness, LSHS is encouraging friendly competition between fourth-period classes to reach the school’s goal of 3,500 items. The class that donates the most healthy food items by Dec. 13 will receive a prize.
The first-place prize will be ice cream floats.
Second place will receive donuts.
Third place will receive seven cookies, adding an extra incentive to get involved.
The more healthy the food item, the more points a class earns.
“I don’t give anything to my students for bringing in food. We don’t have any party. I don’t give any extra credit. I just talk about the importance of helping those in need. I tell students like, that this is a real issue that’s affecting our community. It’s not just affecting our community. It’s affecting students, the high school, and the people in my classroom. I mean statistically, there are probably two to three students in each class that you have that are living with food insecurities that are benefiting from this food drive,” history teacher Josh Fountain said
For many, the food drive is a reminder of the struggles that many families in Lake Stevens face. According to the Snohomish County Health Department, one in every 11 people experiences food insecurity in Snohomish County, a statistic that has been increasing because of a rising cost of living and economic challenges.
Pull Quote.
“Food insecurities prevent you from being successful in most things in life, like being able to focus in the classroom, being able to maintain and hold a job— all these things.” -Josh Fountain
As LSHS students, staff, and community members come together, the food drive represents more than cans of food—it’s an expression of compassion, community, and shared responsibility. For students, it’s an opportunity to give back, build empathy, and understand the importance of supporting their neighbors.
The Lake Stevens community is encouraged to participate by bringing healthy non-perishable food items to LSHS. For those looking to make a difference beyond donations, volunteer opportunities are also available through the school to assist with sorting and organizing the collected food.
“Donating makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I’m doing something to help people,” Joehnk said.
As the countdown to Dec. 13 continues, every item, every donation and every act of kindness brings LSHS closer to making a difference in the lives of local families.
