NJROTC’s food drive invites friendly competition

Caitlyn Ybarra, Web Editor|February 14, 2023

Leo Lopez

ROTC works together to transport the food items collected from food drive

STORY UPDATED WITH WINNING TITAN TIME AND THEIR PIZZA PARTY

1,527 food items were donated to NeighborGood thanks to a food drive sponsored by NJROTC.  To add a bit of competition to the drive, ROTC challenged Titan Times across the school to collect the most food for the chance to win an ice cream or pizza party for the top collector.

The winning titan time was Mr. Dale Walker’s titan time who chose a pizza party. Their total number collected was 318.

Dale Walker, 12th, bites into pepper from pizza box. (Paige Miller)

Senior Jace Mastra, was a very motivated member of Dale Walker’s titan time. “I took it as a competitive approach in the mindset of I’m doing this for the greater good. So I went out spent $200-300 iin the insurance that we get that spot” said Mastra.

Josh Murry, 12th, gets taste of victory (Paige Miller)

Titan Times were awarded points based on the amount of food donated, and if they were on the most needed list. The Titan Time that collected the most points was to be awarded an ice cream or pizza party provided by the NJROTC.

Monday, February 13th, the JROTC loaded the food items collected for the NeighborGood food pantry.

Ben Stephens, 11th, and Elijah Sebey, 11th, remove food boxes from storage preparing for the transportation to food pantry. (Leo Lopez)

Items the food pantry is most in need of include: crackers, chicken/tuna helper, fruit, cereal, canned sloppy joe sauce, pasta side dishes, jello/pudding, canned pasta, hamburger helper, canned carrots/potatoes, and ramen.

Jace Mastra 12th, and Avery Barry, 11th, soak up the day’s weather reaching up to 61° Fahrenheit. (Leo Lopez)

As for the effect of this drive, the NeighborGood Operations Coordinator Jenny Nichols, said: “It’s great. It’s very much needed in the community and organizations like ROTC doing food drives for us is very important as far as being able to get the product out to our clients.”

ROTC members pass along food boxes left to right into the NeighborGood vehicle. (Leo Lopez)

Items raised will go to needy who live in the greater Sarpy county and Ralston area.

According to the NeighborGood website, “Right now, many people right here in our community are struggling with hunger.  They may have recently lost a job or are disabled and unable to work.  They are often hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet.”