Sanford Middle School recently completed its Holiday Food Drive Competition, which was organized by the JMG program.
This annual event, which has been going on for over a decade, brings teachers, students, and families together to support those in need during the holiday season. This year's food drive was a resounding success, surpassing expectations and making a significant impact on Sanford families.
This year, the food drive ran from November 8th to December 8th. The food from each homeroom is collected and scored before Thanksgiving and then again before December break.
According to JMG specialist Tara Houle, the goal is to have enough food to distribute at least 40 meal baskets to Sanford families and to have enough to restock the SMS food closet. The food closest is accessible to all SMS students and families.
The food drive exceeded its goal, and with the help of the SMS Counseling Department, they were able to distribute over 50 meal baskets before Thanksgiving break.
The second collection in December yielded enough donations to create 40+ "pantry restock" bags for families in need before the December break. These prepared bags included easy-to-make dinners, desserts, and snacks.
Alongside the collective achievement of the SMS community, special recognition goes to the homerooms that emerged as winners in the competition. In the 5th grade, both a pair of homerooms and a single homeroom were recognized. Mr. Ouellette and Mrs. Daniels' pair of homerooms secured an impressive 744 points, while Mrs. Allaire's single homeroom accumulated 159 points.
In the 6th grade, Mrs. Sweeney's homeroom stood out with 322 points; in the 7th grade, Mr. Gouin's homeroom excelled with 378 points. Finally, Mr. Cantara's homeroom in the 8th grade achieved the highest score in the school, an outstanding 395 points.
Congratulations to all participants, winners, and SMS students and staff for their dedication and generosity in making this year's food drive a tremendous success.