Imagine Prep Surprise’s “The Club” hosts an annual food drive called the “We Scare Hunger Food Drive” in hopes of raising non-perishable food items and money that can be donated to St. Mary’s Food Bank.

This food drive raised 1,402 total items/monies donated from Oct. 27 to 31. Organizers said the drive engaged students, staff and community members to get involved with giving back and donating to the local community.

This year’s drive surpassed last year’s donations by almost 100 items.

Students and staff were encouraged to participate in the food drive through some friendly competition between the “Houses” within the middle school and high school. One incentive included a free dress down day for any house that brought in 250 items or more.

House Hurricane-Downpour collected 258 items, while House Tornado-Vortex brought in 353 items to meet the goal and earn a dress down day they took on Nov. 13.

The drive started during the government shutdown, which paused the release of SNAP benefits.

The school’s Honors Societies also raised funds to provide 26 Thanksgiving meal boxes.

A donation from the Parent Teacher Organization resulted in raising over $1,600 for meal boxes.

Over the last four years, the Honors Societies have provided 20 meal boxes each year through curbside pickup and contactless delivery.

Honors Societies Faculty Advisor Gia Lowell said this year’s meals boxes featured a 17- to 21-pound turkey, two stuffing boxes, potatoes, canned yams, mini marshmallows, four gravy envelopes, two cans of green beans, two cans of corn, two cans of cranberry sauce, two boxes of macaroni & cheese,one box of chicken broth, two boxes of cornbread mix, rolls, one bag of rice and one whole dessert.

Larger families received a ham and additional dessert.

Additional random products that were donated were dispersed throughout the boxes.

Plus, leftover funds were turned into ALDI gift cards, which were placed in boxes randomly.

Honors Societies members made gratitude cards for the families to put in the boxes that will be wrapped in holiday wrapping paper.

The students are also adopting a Ryan House family to provide holiday gifts, new clothes, shoes, toys, hobby items and gift cards.

Lastly, they hosted a Campus Care weekend on campus on Nov. 22 and 23, where they decorated the halls for the holidays.