Donations up 72 percent in Double R Communications Elementary School Food Drive

SAFFORD — “This food drive helps supply our customers for most of the year,” said Dana Larchick, Pantry manager for Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry.

On Tuesday, volunteers from Sparklight, Valley Furniture, the Graham County Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties loaded up trucks and trailers with more than 40,000 nonperishable food items collected by elementary school students from across the Gila Valley in the Double R Communications annual Elementary School Food Drive.

The students compete to be the class at their school that donates the most nonperishable food items. The class at each school with the most items get a Domino’s pizza party, cupcakes from Creative Custom Cakes and a trophy from Trophies N’ Tees, plus a visit from the Air Evac helicopter.

Brendyn Warner, left, and Alex Romero help unload the first of two trailers of food brought in to Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry by Sparklight volunteers.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

“It’s crazy and cool, and these kids get into it. Some kids get into big time,” said Reed Richins, owner of Double R Communications.

This year’s total weight of food donated was 28,240 pounds, up 72 percent from last year’s donation of 16,480 pounds of food.

Helping offload and sort all that food were dozens of students from Safford High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Interact and National Honor Society clubs.

“We came last year, too. We know they need a lot of manpower — it takes a lot of time to unload everything and to pack everything away in the boxes — and we have kids who just want to do good for the community,” said Ryenn Nunley, FBLA secretary.

Dallas Wells and fellow Safford High School volunteers help sort the food donated to Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

This year’s winning classes were:

Mr. Mike’s class at Dan Hinton School collected 347 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Mrs. Skinner’s class at Discovery Plus Academy collected 308 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

For the third year in a row, Ms. Smith’s class collected the most items at Dorothy Stinson School. This year the class collected 1,890 items
– Kat Kountry Photo

Mrs. Jarvis’ class at Lafe Nelson School collected 269 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Mrs. DeWitt’s class at Pima Elementary School collected 738 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Mrs. Abril’s class at Ruth Powell School collected 1,125 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Mrs. Blair’s class at Solomon School collected 1,179 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Ms. Gasca’s class at Thatcher Elementary School collected the most items this year – 3,521 nonperishable food items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Ms. Roark’s class at Thatcher Primary School collected 543 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Mrs. Thatcher’s class at Triumphant Learning Center collected 189 items.
– Kat Kountry Photo

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, to correct the name of the dessert sponsor.

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