One of Williams Field High School’s oldest traditions, “Stuff the Bus,” went off again this year, collecting more than 10,000 pounds of food for United Food Bank. 

The goal of this event, where volunteers fill a school bus with nonperishable items to transport to the United Food Bank, is to contribute to the well-being of those facing food insecurity during this particular time of the year.  

The event serves as a unifying force at the school, engaging the community, students, and staff of Williams Field High School, school officials said.  

 “It also combines all their core values especially dedication and selflessness,” Principal Dan Fox said. “The students are dedicated to helping with the community, and they get the chance to be selfless, which I feel, and all of Williams Field, all our staff, feels. That’s very important that they know that they’re a part of something much bigger.  

“Whether that’s a part of being a Blackhawk at Williams Field High School or even the surrounding community, they get that sense of, ‘I fit in here and I can make a difference in the world around me.’”  

For the past 13 years, the canned food drive has stood as a tradition. Williams Field High School’s National Honor Society took it on as its annual service project for the school and the community, guided by its advisors, Alison Locke and Megan Spitler.  

Over the past five weeks, cans have been collected from first-hour classes and various campus events. At the close of the event, the winning class, the top contributor in terms of cans, participates in the fulfilling activity of "Un-Stuffing the Bus" at the United Food Bank.  

“This is our 13th year of doing Stuff the Bus,” Locke said. “We’ve had some great success. This year we got 10,487 pounds. That included anything from cans of non-perishable foods to pasta, flour and sugar to go to local soup kitchens.”  

Following the unloading of items from the bus, participants were granted the opportunity to explore the United Food Bank facility. They gained insight into the behind-the-scenes processes that showcase the transformation of collected food from food drives into essential nourishment for our neighbors, officials said.  

More information on how Higley Unified School District students serve the community is available by exploring #HigleyHelps on social media.