NEPTUNE – Fullfill, the food bank that serves Ocean and Monmouth counties, awarded a Point Pleasant school for collecting the most food and funds in its division during a recent contest.
“This year has been incredibly challenging for schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties. As teachers and students navigated through virtual or hybrid learning, we were not sure if Students Change Hunger would happen this year,” CEO and President Kim Guadagno said.
Guadagno, the former Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey added, “it was a pleasant surprise when 49 schools signed up and students, teachers, and parents did not let the pandemic stop them from their annual efforts of collecting food and funds to help feed our neighbors in need.”
Memorial Middle School in Point Pleasant was announced as the 2020 Heavyweight Champion of the Students Change Hunger Competition in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, to benefit Fulfill. The award was for collecting the most food and funds in its division.
Guadagno announced the winning school during a Zoom session with the principal, teachers, and students. Memorial Middle School was also the only school in Monmouth and Ocean Counties this year to join the Five Thousand Pound Club.
Ranney School in Tinton Falls and Howell Middle School South also placed in the top three schools.
“Each school had to be creative and figure ways to hold COVID-friendly food drives. From online donation pages to drive-by food drop-offs, teachers and students managed to make an enormous impact providing 100,000 meals collectively in this competition to feed people in need at a time when donations are needed the most. Congratulations to all our winners and thank you for helping us feed the Jersey Shore!” Guadagno added.
The statewide competition was organized by the Federation of New Jersey Food Banks, and ran from September 14, 2020 through December 18, 2020.
In Monmouth and Ocean Counties, 21 schools received awards for their exceptional efforts to feed our food insecure neighbors:
- Memorial Middle School, Point Pleasant – 2020 Heavyweight Champion, 5,000 Pound Club, Division 4 Award
- Ranney School – 4,000 Pound Club, Division 4 Award
- Howell Middle School South – 2,000 Pound Club, Division 5 Award
- Biotechnology High School – 2,000 Pound Club, Division 3 Award
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School – 2,000 Pound Club
- Bay Head Elementary School – 1,000 Pound Club, Division 2 Award
- Lanes Mill Elementary School – 1,000 Pound Club, Division 4 Award
- Manalapan High School – 1,000 Pound Club, Division 6 Award
- Marlboro Montessori Academy – 1,000 Pound Club
- Millstone Township Middle School – 1,000 Pound Club, Division 3 Award
- Monmouth Beach School – 1,000 Pound Club, Division 3 Award
- Sea Girt Elementary – 1,000 Pound Club
- Wall High School – 1,000 Pound Club, Division 5 Award
- Alpha High School – Pounds Per Student, Division 1 Award
- New Road School – 1,000 Pound Club, Division 1 Award
- Home Away from Home Academy – Division 2 Award
- Point Pleasant Borough High School – Philip N. Connelly Award
- Lafayette Mills School – Mary Conlon Spirit Award
- Toms River North High School – Rookies of the Year Award
- Monmouth Regional High School – Student Leadership Award
- H.W. Mountz – Hunger Heroes Award
