There’s still time to donate to drive for Watertown Food Pantry
Watertown High ninth-grader working with Project 351 to collect food for the community
Raider Times photo / Sylvia Sakata
Collection boxes outside the main office at Watertown High School await donations for the Watertown Food Pantry.
December 9, 2021
With its end right around the corner, a student-run food drive at Watertown High School has given students and staff a chance to show a philanthropic side by giving to a good cause.
“I’m part of a nonprofit called Project 351 where we do service projects to benefit our hometowns, and our fall and winter service project is a food drive,” said Sylvia Sakata, the project leader and a WHS ninth-grader.
The project, which is organized annually, is partnering with the Watertown Food Pantry, which has served to provide food to members of the community for years.
“Giving back to my community makes me so happy, and these projects let you help another real person who is in need,” Sylvia remarked. “Our food drives benefit our local food pantry, so, of course, I chose the Watertown Food Pantry so we could help people who are directly part of our community.”
Boxes of donations have been filled with canned goods and non-perishable foods throughout the drive, which is scheduled to end Dec. 10. Supporting the drive have been student volunteers who stood to gain community service hours by spreading the word.
“As for how I put together my team,” added Sylvia, “I simply reached out to people I knew would be enthusiastic about helping others and invited them to join the cause! We are raising awareness and spreading the word to friends who will hopefully pass on the info to others.”
There is still time to donate to this drive, but people can also donate directly to the Watertown Food Pantry. Sylvia also has ideas for future drives.
“The service projects are the same every year, so I will likely be doing another clothing drive and food drive, but I plan on doing other things, too,” she said.
“The best part of doing the drive is knowing that no matter how big it is, we’re going to impact someone’s life, and hopefully, if nothing more, help them not worry where their dinner is coming from.”
–Dec. 9, 2021–
