This holiday season, students at Park City High School gathered an impressive 60,000 pounds of food and essentials. Senior Scarlett Tary shared, “It’s organized by the National Honor Society members.”
Freshman Evelyn Lerner added, “We are the largest high school food drive in Utah. That’s pretty cool!” For the first three weeks of December, students competed to collect donations for the Christian Center of Park City.
To maximize their reach, students set up donation bins outside local grocery stores and also teamed up with schools to collect food from younger students. They even accepted monetary donations through a Venmo account.
Senior Cohen Flach remarked, “This is a real way to impact our community. As high schoolers, we don’t always get to help out like this, so it’s great to see everyone coming together.” On December 19, the donated items were organized and sent to the Christian Center.
Jaime Mira, deputy director of food security at the center, expressed gratitude: “What the students do is incredible. These donations can feed families for up to six months.” This year, the need has been greater than ever. Mira noted, “After SNAP payments stopped, we saw a rise in people seeking help at the center. But what’s uplifting is that our community has stepped up their giving as well.”
The lack of snow has also reduced work for seasonal jobs, adding to the need for support. If you’re interested in helping, the Christian Center accepts donations all year round. They have a drop-off location at 1283 Deer Valley Drive, and you can contribute financially at ccofpc.org/donate-financially.
This strong community response reflects a trend seen in many places. According to a recent survey, 70% of people want to support those in need during tough times. Initiatives like this food drive not only provide essential assistance but also inspire others to lend a helping hand.
