High schools battle each other to end hunger

For the past six weeks, 16 area high schools have been scrambling to collect as many non-perishable food items as possible for the second annual Charlotte Student Hunger Drive.

The schools have been competing in various events, like a Fast Feet shopping spree sponsored by Food Lion, to see who can gather the most total weight in food to be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.

Totals were announced at the Second Annual Charlotte Student Hunger Drive on Wednesday night at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina - where the drive originally kicked off. Together, the schools collected 86,023 pounds of food worth more than $196,000.

For the year, this was an increase of 77 percent, said Natalie Jenkins, executive director of the Charlotte Student Hunger Drive.

Winners of the 2011 Charlotte Student Hunger Drive:

Most Pounds Per Student: 1st Place ($2,500 award) – Cannon High School with 10.49 lbs per student 2nd Place ($1,000 award) – Hickory Ridge High School with 8.52 lbs per student Most Improved ($500 award) – Garinger High School with a 206 percent increase, collecting more than 2,010 pounds.

Food Lion Student MVP Award: Given to a student who went above and beyond in their leadership during the Student Hunger Drive. The Food Lion MVP Award, a $250 Scholarship, was given to Nation Ford High School junior Forrest Holloman of Fort Mill.

Snyders-Lance Freshest Idea Award: Given to the school with the most creative collection event of the Student Hunger Drive. 1st Place ($500 award) – East Mecklenburg High School

Awards of $100 were given to schools that collected over 5,000 pounds: Ardrey Kell High School; Charlotte Catholic High School; Olympic High School; Providence High School; Hickory Ridge High School, Fort Mill High School, Nation Ford High School, and East Mecklenburg High School

Congratulations to all high schools who contributed to the success of the drive: Ardrey Kell; Butler; Central Cabarrus; Cannon; Charlotte Catholic; East Mecklenburg; Fort Mill; Leadership & Public Service High School at Garinger; Harding University High; Hickory Ridge; Myers Park; Nation Ford; Olympic; Philip O. Berry Academy; Providence; Rocky River and South Mecklenburg.

Learn more:

For more information on the Student Hunger Drive, visit http://www.studenthungerdrive.org/.

Do you know a Young Achiever? If you know (or are!) someone you think has an inspiring story, email me at bpenland@charlotteobserver.com or call 704-358-6043.

-Photo by Adam Jennings