McCarthy Middle School students help load donated items into the Salvation Army truck during last year’s Project 300 food drive.
by Jen Oemig
CHELMSFORD – Project 300, a large-scale food drive coordinated by students and staff at McCarthy Middle School in Chelmsford, kicked off today and will run through Tuesday, Jan. 20.
“This has been a school-based service project that really takes off as the week progresses and brings the school and community together,” said McCarthy Middle School math teacher Tom Gallagher, who oversees Project 300.
What started 51 years ago as a community service project with a goal to collect 300 non-perishable food items to be donated to the Salvation Army in Lowell, has grown tremendously over the years.
Every year, the students collect anywhere between 26,000 and 32,000 non-perishable food items; and this year, they are expecting to hit an incredible milestone.
“The students and community need to collect 11,568 items to reach 1 million items donated over a 51-year period,” Gallagher said. “We have a really great group of kids, and we are looking to push the limits with the collection of food items this year.”
To increase the incentive, there are collection contests between grades, students and teachers, as well as a poetry contest, poster contest and T-shirt design contest.
“This week will be very special to the students, staff and community here at McCarthy Middle School,” Gallagher said. “We have set a goal of 15,000 items.”
Donations of unexpired, non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the mornings from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. in the small gym of McCarthy Middle School or afternoons at the front door of the school.
There will also be a dine-to-donate event at a local restaurant to support Project 300 later this week.
