DAVENPORT, Iowa — The River Bend Food Bank announced on Thursday, Nov. 7 that its annual Student Hunger Drive raised a grand total of 787,000 meals, as 16 school districts in 23 counties across the Quad Cities came together to tackle food insecurity. Now in its 38th year, this student-led competition encourages schools to collect as much food for River Bend Food Bank as possible, helping support families in the area.
For some students, it was a first-time experience. Maddie Millage, a sophomore at Pleasant Valley High School, shared her excitement over the collective achievement.
“It’s just amazing," Millage said. "Seeing those numbers is crazy because it’s like, oh my word, we did all of that, and all of the hard work just paid off."
Bashara Sherif, a junior at United Township High School, echoed similar sentiments about the pride and sense of community involvement.
"It’s actually my first year being involved, but I made a good run at it," Sherif said. "Internally, it makes me feel good knowing I helped the community."
According to Rachel Grewe, Program Coordinator at River Bend Food Bank, the drive is essential in meeting rising demands.
“Every year, it’s very well-needed," Grewe said. "We have an increase in the number of people we’re serving, so every little bit helps."
Since its inception in 1986, the Student Hunger Drive has provided over 19 million meals across the Foodbank’s 23-county service area. For 2024, Pleasant Valley High School took the top spot for the most donations, with Bettendorf High School coming in a close second.