"Stuff the Panther" Food Drive a Success at Traughber Junior High [Video]

When Traughber Junior High students decided to host a food drive to benefit the Kendall County Food Pantry, even they couldn't imagine how much they would end up collecting.

"Stuff the Panther" was a food drive organized by the Traughber student council that was held over a "spirit week" on Jan. 28 - Feb. 1 and had been in planning since January.

Council members reached out to all students, classrooms and even to parents and community members through the Traughber Facebook and voicemails. 

The students collected the following themed items each day of the week:

• Monday – "Mr. Clean Monday" – Items to donate were paper products
• Tuesday – “Carb Tuesday" – Items to donate were food that have carbohydrates
• Wednesday – “PB&J Wednesday” – Items to donate were jars of Peanut butter and/or Jelly
• Thursday – “You ‘CAN’ Do it Thursday” – Items to donate were any canned food item
• Friday – “Saucy Friday” – Items to donate were any sauces or condiments

They ended up with so many items that the Kendall County Food Pantry sent a truck on Tuesday, Feb. 5 to pick it all up. Student council members helped load the truck as snowflakes trickled down.

Throughout the first semester, the Traughber Student Council raised more than $500 for charities such as Pet H.A.V.E.N. and Baskets of Courage, and has sponsored/co-sponsored two dances and provided concessions at wrestling meets and boys basketball games.

Editor's Note: The name of the food pantry has been corrected.