Bainbridge Elementary School held a schoolwide canned food drive from Nov. 3 to 14 to support families in the community during the Thanksgiving season. Students, families, and staff members participated in the collection effort, donating both Thanksgiving staples and pantry items that families can use year-round.

The challenge was to "can the principal's office" by filling principal Amanda Baxter's workspace from wall to wall with donated goods. By the end of the drive, Bainbridge Elementary surpassed its goal and filled the principal's office, collecting 852 boxes and cans.

The Bainbridge Community Helpers, a student leadership group, played a key role in the project's success. Committee members Teigan Knoble, Kellan McCloskey, Preston Miller, and Hirm Wolgemuth, supported by school counselor Taylor Eisenhart and school custodian Gary Yaremchak, collected, sorted, and delivered the donations to Baxter's office each day.

Requested items included Thanksgiving favorites such as boxed mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, yams, gravy, and stuffing, along with family staples like macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, applesauce, peanut butter, and jelly. These contributions will allow the school to assemble food boxes for twelve Bainbridge families, with additional items being donated to the Elizabethtown Area School District food pantry to support more families throughout the district.