Alisal High School students break school record for food drive donations

Alisal High School students reached an impressive milestone Friday.

Students say they’re proud to break a school record for their food drive, a drive they’ve been doing for the past 10 years.

“Our first year, we started off with 1,000 pounds (of food). One thousand pounds was our goal, and every year, we keep increasing, and we always reach our goal,” said Nancy Cano, Alisal High School’s student body president.

The benchmark set last year was 15,000 pounds, and this year they collected 17,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank For Monterey County.

“We’re able to feed one in five Monterey County residents, and this is a tremendous help in stocking up our pantry,” said Cathie Montero, the programs manager for the food bank.

“We do feel like we’re making a difference, because our students enjoy this. They enjoy bringing cans. They know they’re helping others,” said Cano.

Helping others is Central Coast Assemblyman Luis Alejo’s mantra.

“This holiday season, it’s pretty awesome to see our young people care and give back to their community,” said Alejo.

Thursday night, Alejo hosted a forum on homelessness in Salinas. He explained where warming shelters would be available this winter but also talked about making Chinatown liveable.

“We could actually build transitional and permanent housing to give places for our residents to be able to live,” said Alejo.

Meanwhile, Alisal students are also thinking long-term and expanding the food drive.

“Imagine if all the schools did this, it would be such a positive change in the entire Salinas,” Cano said. “Maybe it could expand to other schools in the Monterey County.”

Students were also able to raise $3,700. For every dollar they raise, it means five pounds of extra food for the food bank.

Next year, students say their goal is 20,000 pounds of food.