The National Honor Society chapter at Dayspring Christian Academy, 120 College Ave., Mountville, will once again partner with the Mountville Lions Club to arrange its annual food drive on Friday, Dec. 8, from 8 a.m. to noon. The drive will be held at Mountville Church of the Brethren, 60 Clay St., Mountville, and all of its donations will benefit the Columbia Food Bank.

During the drive, a truck provided by local real estate agent Craig Hartranft will be stationed in the parking lot. Students in Dayspring's chapter of the National Honor Society and members of the Lions Club will work together to fill the truck with donations until the end of the drive, and they will also assist local residents with unloading their cars when dropping off goods. Eligible donations will include unexpired or nonperishable food items such as canned fruits, vegetables, soups, meats, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauce and boxed cereal. Once the drive has ended, volunteers will use the truck to deliver all donations to the Columbia Food Bank.

This is the third year that the school has partnered with the Lions Club for the drive, which obtained more than 1,700 donations last year. Every year, Dayspring students are encouraged to support the drive through various incentives. Classes that secure an average of four donations per student are rewarded with a special dress day later in the year, when the kids are permitted to wear casual clothing in place of their standard uniforms. The class with the highest average of donated items is traditionally thanked with a pizza party. "In years past, we have had amazing success," said Jayden Yon, president of the Dayspring's chapter of the National Honor Society. "I am excited to see how both the Mountville community and the Dayspring community come together this year to bless the Columbia Food Bank."

The food drive was first held in 2021 after Lions Club member Jeff Weinman suggested the partnership to Dayspring. The student side of the initial drive was manned by the school's student government, but the endeavor was taken over by students in the National Honor Society. So far, the volunteers have managed to completely fill the donation truck each year. Local community members are invited to participate in the drive, and donations also originate from within Dayspring. "The school has been really great to work with. I can't say enough about the students and faculty members at school and how they contribute every year," Weinman said. "The kids always do an amazing job, and they always exceed our expectations."

The Mountville Lions Club has supported the Columbia Food Bank in other ways for several years, and club members frequently accept donations at each of their monthly meetings. "The need is greater around the holidays and through the winter," Weinman said. "We try to support the food bank when we can."