The lobby and the pantry of the Barton County Food Bank told the story Friday.
The lobby was packed with needy folks, many seeking food to make a Thanksgiving meal possible. The pantry, lined with shelves, looked barren.
Then, late that afternoon, several pick-up trucks, two pulling trailers, pulled up to the door. All were piled with food collected and donated by students at Great Bend High School.
“This is such a blessing,”said Derinda Bussman, Food Bank treasurer.
The was the third year for the high school food drive which is a project of the GBHS National Honor Society. The group challenges each class and the staff to a contest to see which can collect the most.
The goal was 8,000 items. Over 11,000 were collected. “Our totals were out of sight,” said Crystal Cross, NHS sponsor and GBHS English teacher.
“I really am proud of the kids,” she said. “It all proved to be a learning experience.”
Cross said the students really came through, joining forces to help the less fortunate. Different groups worked together to collect food and raise money so they could go shopping.
Also, bands of students roamed the streets, going door-to-door in a last-minute push.
In the end, Cross said they brought in 11,423 items. In first place were the seniors with 3,925, in second were the juniors with 3,159, in third were the freshmen with 2,183 and in fourth were the sophomores with 2,166.
 The 2009 goal was 5,000 items and nearly 8,000 were collected. So, they upped the goal to 7,000 in 2010. The total in that year was 8,064.
The economic downturn has increased the need for the Food Bank and with the holidays approaching, the gift could not have come at a better time. “The donations have been going down and the need is going up,” Bussman said. But, with Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, the demand for the bank’s services grows.
School officials said sure the drive helps the Food Bank, but it also gives something back to the students. They see the joy of giving back to their community, a lesson that might catch on in other aspects of their lives.