Forest Hills School District's annual All In Food Drive launches Saturday, Oct. 3, with collections at every FHSD school through Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Anderson High School students will staff the Anderson Kroger on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 3, collecting groceries and cash donations for IPM Food Pantry in Mt. Carmel. The district-wide drive, coordinated by the Forest Hills Council, has every school gathering specific items tied to holiday meals and personal care needs.

Every FHSD school is participating.

Student volunteers from groups including Key Club, DECA, National Honor Society and Teachers Academy will staff the Kroger location all day on weekends, handing shoppers a list of needed items and collecting donations as they leave. The drive has been an Anderson High tradition for 15 years.

Last year's effort produced 2,870 Power Packs and over 10,000 pounds of food and personal care products for IPM, according to a district year-end recap and the school's Raptor Report.

Mr. DeLotell, an Anderson High teacher who manages the school's food drive participation, credited the community's generosity in an August Raptor Report feature recapping last year's drive: "If we didn't have a community that donated the food, this wouldn't be possible."

The drive culminates Wednesday, Oct. 21 with Anderson High's Freshman Day of Service, when students assemble thousands of Power Packs for distribution.

Residents who want to help have several options. Each school is collecting specific items:

  • Turpin and Nagel: deodorant, body wash, shampoo and conditioner
  • Wilson and Maddux: canned pumpkin puree, crispy fried onions, evaporated milk and chicken broth
  • Sherwood and Mercer: brown sugar (32 oz), boxed stuffing mix (12–14 oz) and cornbread mix (8.5 oz)
  • Ayer and Summit: granulated sugar (4 lb), gravy mix and jellied cranberry sauce

Families can also ship items directly to Anderson High through an Amazon Wish List linked on the district's announcement page. The FHSD Central Office at 7946 Beechmont Ave. accepts drop-offs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

IPM Food Pantry, founded more than 60 years ago by four local churches, operates a 12,000-square-foot facility in Mt. Carmel. The pantry has seen a 50% increase in food distributed since moving to its current location, according to its website.

Upcoming community calendar:

  • Saturdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 3: Anderson High students at Anderson Kroger collecting donations
  • Wednesday, Oct. 21: Final collection day across FHSD; Freshman Day of Service at Anderson High
  • Saturday, Oct. 24, noon to 3 p.m.: IPM Food Pantry HarvestFest, a free family event with a donut truck, children's musician and community resources