For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jessica@jgpr.net

Whittier Tech Students Donate More Than 800 Cans of Food to Local Pantry During Annual Drive

HAVERHILL – Students in the Machine Technology program at Whittier Tech have big hearts when it comes to helping others through the school’s annual canned food drive. For the fifth year in a row, they collected the most goods to donate to a local food pantry.

From Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, Whittier Tech students participated in a friendly challenge to gather food items for Our Neighbors’ Table in Amesbury, which services families in the district.

“Our annual drive is a great way for students to help others who are in need, especially during the holidays,” Superintendent Maureen Lynch said. “It’s great to see all the technical shops take ownership of this project, and we’re so happy to be able to provide valuable resources to Our Neighbors’ Table.”

At the end of the competition, Machine Tech students had collected 378 cans of food. The technical shop has won five out of six years since Whittier started doing the drive in 2010. To celebrate their win, students were treated to a breakfast from Heav’nly Donuts featuring hot chocolate, juice, bagels and muffins prior to the winter break.

The drive had a hiatus in 2013 and 2014, but in 2015, Health and Physical Education Teacher Roxanne Grover re-ignited the endeavor. That year was the only one in which the Machine Tech shop did not win. Instead, Auto Tech students got their name engraved on the winning plaque, which is created each year with the winning team’s name and then displayed in their shop.

This year, in total, Whittier students collected 805 food items through the drive.

Junior Napoleon Alejandro, of Haverhill, said he was happy to participate in the drive because he has a direct connection to those who benefit from the donations.

“My mom knows someone who can’t afford to buy food for her family and uses the food pantry, so it will help her, too,” Alejandro said.

Junior Andrei Allen, of West Newbury, added that he likes to assist those who are less fortunate, and Junior Colin Bowes, of Salisbury, agreed.

“It’s easy to want to help others who cannot afford food, especially around the holidays,” Allen said.

“You may never know it, but someone you are sitting next to in class may not get three meals a day because their parents may not have jobs,” said junior Chris Pelletier, of Amesbury.

Machine Technology Instructors are Bruce Boisselle and Paul Moskevitz. Students are:

Seniors: Courtland Pelletier, of Methuen, and Samuel Brindle, of Merrimac
Juniors: Owen Hergel, of Newbury, Bryan Richards of Georgetown,
Justice Rodriguez, of Haverhill, Joshua Rousseau, of Haverhill, Christain Saulnier of Amesbury, Sabrina Stubbs, of Merrimac, Benjamin Szydlo, of Groveland, Nickson To of Haverhill, Cameron Vasquez, of Methuen, Carlos Vega Vale, of Haverhill, Napoleon Alejandro, of Haverhill, Andrei Allen, of West Newbury, Kurt Bergman, of Haverhill, Colin Bowes, of Salisbury, Kyle Demers, of Salisbury, Nathan Gelineau, of Haverhill, Ryan McCreven, of Amesbury, Christopher Pelletier, of Amesbury, and Izayah Stevens of Haverhill
Sophomores: James Clark, of Merrimac, Kerry Erler, of Haverhill, Colby Hathaway, of Salisbury, Michael Dondero, of Haverhill and Owen Sevene, of Haverhill.

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