Newton County School System Students and Staff Collect Over 18,000 Cans of Food During Annual Can-A-Thon

West Newton Elementary School students and staff not only collected the most canned goods in the district, they also used the more than 2,000 cans collected to create a fantastic display that won the school system’s annual CANstruction Contest!

Newton County School System (NCSS) students and staff have once again stepped up to the plate to help the local community by collecting food for those less fortunate. During the school system’s annual Can-A-Thon, a total of 18,121 items of food were collected.

“I am very proud of our students, faculty and staff for their support of all those in need of food resources in our community,” said NCSS School Social Worker, George Hutchinson, who coordinates the district’s annual canned food drive. “The items were distributed among several food pantries in the county.”

Overall, eight schools each collected over 1,000 items of food this year, including: East Newton Elementary, Heard-Mixon Elementary, Mansfield Elementary, Middle Ridge Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Porterdale Elementary, South Salem Elementary, and Clements Middle.  West Newton Elementary School more than doubled that by collecting 2,339 cans. In the process, West Newton Elementary School also won the district’s CANstruction contest with an incredible display to demonstrate just how much the students and staff at the school care about and support their local community.

“We often talk to our kids about community service, giving and supporting others,” said Sammy Fudge, principal of West Newton Elementary School. “Their effort of raising over 2000 can items to support others in our community makes us so proud of them.”

“The NCSS CANathon was such a great success because it was a team effort involving all of our students and employees,” said Samantha Fuhrey, superintendent of Newton County School System. “When you look at the numbers and see how much food was collected it’s absolutely amazing—18,000 cans of food! And every single can will stay right here in Newton County to help residents in our community. Through their efforts, the students and employees of our school system have helped put food on the table for so many families in our community who are in need. Words can’t even begin to describe how proud I am of their tremendous support of the NCSS CANathon!”

Schools that collected more than 150 cans of food include: