From Sept. 26 – Oct. 3, Aliso Niguel and Dana Hills High School participated in the Canned Food Drive. Donations gave students volunteer hours, making it a large event to give back to the community.
Aliso Niguel High School took the victory, collecting 8.5 bins. In total, this weighed 881 pounds. Dana Hills collected 4.5 bins. In total, this weighed 358 pounds. Aliso’s strong efforts allowed them to claim the victory against Dana Hills.
While the competition added excitement to the week, both schools shared a common goal of supporting their community. Organizers said the drive helps remind students of the impact they can make when they come together for a cause.
The purpose of the drive extends beyond the rivalry. Organized by student leadership and community service clubs, the event aims to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in the area. Many families rely on local food banks to meet their basic needs, especially during the holiday season. The drive allows students to directly support those families and understand the importance of generosity and compassion.
During the week, students and staff collected lots of nonperishable food items, including canned fruits and vegetables, soups, rice, pasta, and other pantry staples. The donations were delivered to local food banks and community organizations to help families who are struggling with food insecurity.
Tiger Lilee Flores (11) said she didn’t participate because she kept forgetting to bring things to donate, and they weren’t giving sufficient hours. Some students felt as if it wasn’t worth it. Flores says she will try to participate next year because she knows how fulfilling giving back is.
The Canned Food Drive is an annual tradition that benefits local food pantries and helps students learn the importance of service and compassion. It is a chance to give back while bonding with classmates and representing their school with pride.
At the end of the week on Friday night, Aliso Niguel and Dana Hills went head-to-head in a football game. This builds the rivalry between them that grew from the food drive.
Although Aliso Niguel took home the win this year for the food drive, both schools made a positive difference in the community. The food collected will go a long way in helping families in need, showing that a little friendly competition can lead to a lot of good.
