This year in the annual food drive for the Alameda County Food Bank the school raised an estimated total of 13,704 pounds. Although there were no dominant classes, every single class contributed for this food drive, often bringing more than 200 pounds.

The usual top contenders, English teacher Janet Labberton, math teacher Bill Marthinsen, and English teacher Rosie Reid all did not have sixth period classes. This increased the competition and encouraged other classes to attempt to place first.

Spanish teacher Virginia Leskowski’s class placed first with 1185 pounds, English teacher Mercedes Foster in second with 914 pounds, and acapella teacher Joe Piazza in third place with 721 pounds.

Leskowski said that the food drive was great fun and her class is very proud of what they have accomplished.

“We are very honored to serve hungry people,” she said.

Each class worked to bring in as many pounds as they could, some even bringing hundreds on only one day.

Leskowski said that the greatest amount of food that her class brought in on one day was about 600 pounds.

“It was the size of a Prius,” she said.

Foster’s sixth period also brought in large amounts on a single day that helped them to place second.

“I don’t have the numbers, but I think 400-500 pounds came in on one day,” she said.

Each class utilized a different strategy in order to achieve bringing in large amounts of food.

Leskowski’s class rallied behind an anonymous donor who gave her money to buy rice.

“Once that big influx of food came in on that day, more and more people brought in food,” she said.

Foster said that her sixth period English 3-4 class was already a tightly knit group, so they worked together from the beginning.

“I have an enthusiastic group of sophomores who understood the importance of the food drive, and Mr. Marthinsen also came in and encouraged participation,” she said.

Leskowski students were also very dedicated and worked well together,

“We had two class leaders who “pep talked” the class every day. We collected money on two occasions and two students visited wholesale food distributors to buy food. We are lucky to have such dedicated students and parents,” she said.

Leskowski said that since most people have drinking water, food is the next priority.

“I believe that it is my obligation to serve others,” she said.

Foster said that she made the food drive such a high priority because the food bank needs every ounce it can get.

“We are surrounded by hungry people and don’t even realize it much of the time. It is important to recognize our good fortune and to do what we can to help others who haven’t been as lucky,” she said.

Foster’s advice for other teachers who are trying to get their classes motivated is to remind their students about the real reason ASB has a food drive each year.

“Bringing in food is about a lot more than a pizza party. It’s about lending a hand to others,” she said.