Each fall, local Area 6 schools compete in a food drive for United Food Bank of Plant City. This year, two coordinators were matched up to work for the Knights Elementary Drive. The duo turned out to be a father-and-son team.
Dean Pfeffer, the pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, is also on the food bank’s board of directors. Last year, for the first time, each board member was paired with a school to help coordinate the food drive at a more personal level. Pfeffer’s son, Jason Pfeffer, teaches fifth grade at Knights and had volunteered to organize the project for the school.
“With him on staff here, I jumped right on board to be the liaison for this school,” Dean said.
The Pfeffers have a long history of supporting food banks. Decades ago, while the family lived in St. Louis, Missouri, Dean’s wife organized the food bank at Concordia Lutheran Seminary. Jason was too young to have started school at the time, so he accompanied his mother on trips to the grocery store and did what he could to help her stock the shelves.
In Plant City, Hope Lutheran has supported UFB for years. Pastor Pfeffer was passionate about the partnership, and five years ago, the food bank asked him to join them as a board member.
As a team, the Pfeffers worked hard to stir up enthusiasm for the fall food drive among students at Knights.
They decided to introduce some friendly competition among students and faculty. The class that brought in the most items would win an ice cream party, and their teacher would receive a gift card to a local restaurant.
Jason also worked with the school’s faculty adviser for National Elementary Honor Society.
The creative incentives were effective. Between Nov. 3 and Nov. 14, the school collected more than 1,000 items, which was almost double the number from the last year. And, it’s safe to say that Jason’s fifth graders can start looking forward to that ice cream party.
“I just like creating any competition within a school,” Jason said. “It always makes for an interesting day.”
Jason’s classroom is slightly larger than others at the school, so teachers were allowed to store their class’ donations in his room as they arrived. By the end of the drive, a mountain of nonperishables had accumulated.
“It’s hard keeping it in a room where there’s really not much space to store that,” Jason said.
After the items were counted and organized, members of the Daybreak Rotary Club transported them to the food bank from classrooms around town.
The food bank’s next task is to collect turkeys for families who cannot afford them this Thanksgiving. Last year, UFB served more than 420 turkeys to families in eastern Hillsborough County. To contribute, take 10- to 12-pound turkeys to the food bank at 702 E. Alsobrook Street.
AWARDS
The school food drive winners had not been determined as of press time, but the top collectors will earn awards to be proud of:
• Trophy for overall most pounds of food donated
• Trophy for most pounds donated per capita
• Recognition for second and third place among elementary schools
• Recognition for second and third place among middle and high schools
• Innovative Award
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.