Since 2016, Yelm High School’s National Honor Society has hosted a food drive at Yelm football’s homecoming games that benefit the Yelm Food Bank. This year, the NHS-led fundraiser returns on Oct. 20 as the Tornados host the Peninsula Seahawks at YHS’s homecoming game.
NHS members will accept any non-perishable items near the entrance on the main stadium side, but the group cannot accept frozen or refrigerated items. The group cannot accept monetary donations, either.
Tasha Johnson, an NHS adviser since 2008, said the idea for the food drive began during an officer meeting where the group asked how they could become more visible to the local community and integrate community service projects.
“There are four pillars for NHS — service, scholarship, leadership and character,” Johnson said. “To be a member of NHS a student has to have completed three semesters of high school, thus invites to apply go out in the spring of each school year. Students must maintain an overall 3.25 GPA and participate in at least five hours of NHS activities.”
Johnson said, in the past, the event has collected 100 to 200 items. NHS participates in other community service projects, including food drives, annual Daughter and Son dances, “Hugs for Soldiers” and creating teacher appreciation cards.
The Yelm Food Bank, located at 624 Crystal Springs St. NW, is open from 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Thursdays and serves Yelm Community Schools, Rainier School District and the Nisqually Tribal Reservation.
