As part of the Student Government Association’s annual canned food drive, brightly colored collection boxes greet students when they enter the school. The canned food drive runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 19 and is a long-standing tradition, but this year, collection locations have changed to prevent cans from setting off the new metal detectors.
“Instead of collecting cans in advisories, we do it by grade before the metal detectors to avoid setting them off,” SGA member Halah Haddad (’26) said.
This means the competition to bring in the most cans is between grade levels and the faculty, whereas previously it was between advisory classes and the faculty. This change not only addresses the issue posed by the metal detectors, but it also aims to foster more competition and donations.
“[We thought it might create] some more motivation and a larger competitive spirit throughout the school,” SGA Canned Food Drive Leader Stephanie Allen (’28) said.
This strategy has worked to motivate some students.
“[I donated] because it’s for a good cause and also because the sophomores were winning,” Logan Beam (’27) said.
Not every can donated is created equal. SGA has devised a point system to determine which class wins the competition. Certain types of canned food earn more points than others. To incentivize canned donations, SGA hosts blitz days during which points are doubled. On those days, students who bring in ten or more cans are entered into a raffle for free yearbooks, prom tickets or Madison merchandise.
“[My friend] and I pooled together 80 dollars total and went to Giant and bought a bunch of canned food,” Beam said. “We put it in the bin on blitz day.”
Behind the scenes, SGA members tally points earned by donations and put the totals in a spreadsheet. Some of the collected cans are used to fill the Eachus Food Pantry, which is located outside of the cafeteria and helps the Madison community directly. Extra cans are brought to the Vienna Presbyterian Church and donated to The Committee for Helping Others.
“The canned food drive is a great opportunity for students to help donate food to people in need,” SGA member Audrey Wang (’26) said.
SGA adapted to policy changes that would impact this tradition by planning in the month leading up to the drive. They reflected on past canned food drives and brainstormed ways to make this year more successful.
“We basically came up with the entire idea of the competition and logistics in the month before the drive started,” Allen said. “We got feedback on our proposal, changed some things and had a final plan set the week before the drive started.”
SGA members also worked to advertise the canned food drive by contacting local elementary schools and the wider Vienna community to encourage more people to donate. They also used Instagram, frequently posting videos to remind students to donate. They created a canned food drive rap, featuring videos of SGA members bowling, lifting weights and playing football with cans, with lyrics encouraging students to donate.
“See you at the pantry, you’re standing with that can though,” SGA members rap in an Instagram post. “Got a box of soup and beans, you’re the real food hero.”
The canned food drive not only allows students to help those in need, but it also builds community.
“Groups of students who might not have normally been connected are able to connect over a common goal of bringing in the most cans and create bonds that wouldn’t have been created in any other situation,” Allen said.
When asked about the importance of donating cans, Wang has a friendly reminder for students:
“You CAN do it!”
