Our school also does a food drive but we do it around Thanksgiving along with a coin collection and several item sales (small things). The one thing that bothers me is making these goodwill gestures into contests. They do the same thing at our school (student council) and I am not sure that the kids learn the true meaning of why they are doing this. I know my daughter (7) was focused on winning the huge candy bar rather than helping others. No matter how many talks we had about what the point of thses things was, it came back to the candy bar. Does anyone else feel this way?

How about a field trip for the class that wins the drive to the food bank or shelter to deliver the food? This will give them an incentive to bring in the stuff and when the trip is complete hopefully a better understanding of how they are helping others. If done by our PTO for our school we would volunteer to cover the cost of the bus driver and gas so the school would not have to absorb this added expense. Let us know what you end up doing OK?

[This message has been edited by gifford (edited 02-14-2001).]

Right now our school is having a penny drive for the Lions ( Their recycling box was arsoned.) We are having a competiton between the boys and girls on who can raise the most money. The canisters keep getting full. The winners all get a piece of candy. The kids many are enjoying the competition.

Every year we do a food drive and donate the items to our local pantry. We always give the class who donates the most items a pizza party. This year I would like to come up with something different to motivate the children. Does anyone have any ideas?