By Salah Uttard, junior

After the government shutdown, people struggled due to the halted funding for groceries and other essential supports, which the government typically provides. With it being so close to the winter season, dontations are crucial to places like food pantries that distribute to people who may not be as fortunate and able to afford necessary items for survival. You can play a role in helping this holiday season to ensure that people are fed and warm.

At Palisades High School, the Key Club is hosting a food drive. For this food drive, they are hoping to receive canned goods and toiletries. There will also be a competition throughout all the different homerooms on who can get the most food donated; The winning homeroom will receive a breakfast party prize. Although the competition is fun, the more important incentive is that people will be helped by our small contributions. Food banks across the country have been strained because of the higher needs of hungry people from the delay in SNAP benefits. There is a need more than ever to help others in the community, so we can all have the basics we need to live.

You can also help children in the community by stopping by the high school lobby to pick up a tag off of the Giving Tree and buying a gift for a child in need this holiday season.

There are many ways that you can help out this winter, other than just at the school. You can go to food pantries, such as Saint John Lord’s Food Pantry – Food Distribution Center, in Ottsville, Quakertown Food Pantry, Quakertown, Saint Isadore Food Pantry – Food Distribution Center, Quakertown