NEWS RELEASE from Cairo-Durham Central School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 17, 2023
Cairo-Durham High School National Honor Society Hosts Annual Food Drive Competition for Holiday Season
CAIRO, NY – In an effort to give back to those in need, the Cairo-Durham High School’s National Honor Society hosted its annual food drive for the holiday season in October and November for its fall/winter community service project.
All 3,989 items donated over a three-week period (Oct. 30 - Nov. 3, Nov. 6-10 and Nov. 13-17) of competition between the four high school grade levels will be delivered to the Cairo Food Pantry located at the Resurrection Lutheran Church.
“I am extremely proud of the work of our students and staff participating in this year’s National Honor Society food drive competition,” Superintendent of Schools Michael Wetherbee said. “The act of being part of something bigger than yourself is a self-gratifying feeling. To do this for those in need during the holiday season speaks volumes of the character of our Mustangs.”
Originating in 2009 under the leadership of Cairo-Durham High School staff members Emily Jones, Laura Giarusso and Anthony Taibi and the Peer Mentoring group, the community service project was revived in 2021 and is now overseen by teacher and National Honor Society advisors Allison Manoli and Susan Boyle.
Students are encouraged over the three-week competition to bring in specific items worth more points for their grade level, and items that could deduct points for other grade levels.
“We revamped the points schedule this year to help promote items that the food pantry needs. We focused this year on Thanksgiving related items that they can use in their Thanksgiving baskets in the first two weeks so we could get them delivered in time to be part of the overall planning,” Manoli said. “The final week highlighted personal hygiene items. I believe that these items will be included in the Christmas baskets.”
The senior class won this year’s competition with a total of 7,638 points accumulated throughout the contest and earned an ice cream party sponsored by the National Honor Society. The teachers who had collection boxes in their rooms representing the grade levels that finished short of first place will be required to participate in a dance-off at the next pep-rally.
“This wouldn't be as successful as it is without the encouragement and excitement of the faculty, especially the ones who have grade level boxes in their classrooms,” Manoli said.
Manoli would like to send a special note of appreciation to Haleon for the toothpaste and toothbrush donation for the project.
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Photos: Loading and drop-off of donated items by National Honor Society students and the poster for the competition.
*Media Advisory* If your media entity would like to conduct an interview in regard to this press release please contact:
Austin Crosier
Communications Specialist
Phone: 518-622-8534, ext. 25010 | Email: acrosier@cairodurham.org
