Wauconda High students form human food chain
To say the kids got a hands-on lesson in charity would be an understatement.
In classic bucket-brigade style Friday morning, nearly 1,300 Wauconda High School students passed more than 8,000 food items along a half-mile route from the high school to the Wauconda-Island Lake Food Pantry on Main Street.
Enduring a biting windchill and temperatures in the lower 30s, the kids tossed, handed and sometimes dropped thousands of bags along the way.
Student Council President Vinny Torossy organized the first-ever event. He got the idea after seeing a news story about another high school that staged a similar effort.
"We could have just driven the truck to the food pantry and made the delivery, but this was a way to make sure everyone had a hand in the process," said the junior student. "Everyone gave a helping hand. Everyone was involved in the process."
March is traditionally the month when students and staff in District 118 hold their annual food drive. This year, the contribution from the high school was above average.
Torossy said things were a little shaky a couple of weeks ago when he realized students had only collected 800 food items. So he ramped up his appeal.
"I spoke at a faculty meeting and asked the teachers to push the idea to the students," he said. "Everyone really jumped on board after that. Our high school collected more food than all of the other district grade schools combined. This never could have happened without the support of the students and staff."
Sophomore Sequoia Lejoy said the human-chain idea helped to connect her to the cause.
"This really made it more personal," she said. "It's cool to actually see all the items we collected. And, it's like we're giving it straight to them instead of someone else delivering the food."
The students worked a little more than an hour but were able to pass most of the items before heading back to classes.
The private Wauconda-Island Lake Food Pantry has been around for 28 years and serves at least 200 families per month. That number is increasing, says president Marge Rucker. She's appreciative of the student's efforts.
"This is making a big difference," Rucker said. "The kids are not usually as enthusiastic as they are now. They are really having fun and enjoying the experience and the teamwork. I hope this becomes and annual tradition."
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