With the start of the LunchMaster program, our schools found ourselves with leftover, non-returnable food items. A team of parents, teachers, staff, and administration across the district, quickly worked together to find a solution: donate these items on a weekly basis to local nonprofits. As of mid November, we have donated over 1,500 lbs of food to Samaritan House; all food that would have gone to waste and into landfills.

Huge applause to these parent volunteers, staff, and administration for mobilizing this initiative across our district, and coming together so quickly. The Samaritan House is so thankful to our community for our contribution during this difficult time - within minutes of our donation, our items are dispersed into waiting bags that are distributed to shelters across the county. A special thank you to West parents Ann Chen & Aya Takeuchi, Mr. Ariel Cornejo, Ms. Ghada Saba, and Ms. Lisa Ayer for taking all the extra steps to make this happen at their schools.

This Thanksgiving, North Families shopped, packed, and donated more than 120 full boxes of groceries to food-insecure families! This amount will feed over 700 people thanks to our partnership with Samaritan House.

Thank you to all of the students, families, and staff who contributed, to Mr. Frankel our Service Learning Teacher Liaison, to the many SL Committee members and volunteers, and to North SL Co-Chairs Katie Ratican Salma & Mayling Bellingham who helped facilitate this meaningful event.