Over the past three weeks, the students of Pleasant Valley have been raising money and non-perishable food items for the local Quad Cities Student Hunger Drive. The main goal for the Spartans was to raise as many donations as they could in an effort to help out the area River Bend Food Bank as they try and raise donations to give to local families in need for the coming winter months.

Pleasant Valley’s Spartan Assembly tried to promote the spirit of giving within the student body. This year they decided to put on an Olympic Style hunger drive in order to try to encourage students to donate. Each week there were many different “events” that took place to promote donations. The teachers involved fought to win the week’s challenge and receive medals based on their class’s efforts.

The classrooms weren’t the only places that the Student Hunger Drive was being promoted. Donations and awareness was being raised at many events held by Pleasant Valley’s Spartan Assembly. There was a reverse powder puff volleyball tournament where the boys of Spartan Nation took to the court. There was a celebrity scoop night at the local Smooth Cool Treats. There was even an interactive program called the Hunger Stories that was put on by one of Spartan Assembly’s own members.

The official close to the Quad Cities Student Hunger Drive came last Thursday as the members of Spartan Assembly delivered the funds and cans they raised to the local River Bend Food Bank. Cecily Clark, senior, is one of many that helped with all the efforts in the Student Hunger Drive. Clark mentioned, “It’s always an amazing feeling seeing those palettes of food load onto the truck because you know it’s going to people who truly deserve it.” Emma Horsfield, junior, is another member of Spartan Assembly that helped make this year’s Hunger Drive a success. The Spartans placed third in this year’s Quad Cities Student Hunger Drive. Horsfield commented, “Although we didn’t do as well as last year, I’m still proud of a 3rd (almost 2nd) place finish especially since we started a few weeks later.” In addition, Horsfield remarked, “The student hunger drive isn’t about winning; it’s all about engaging the student body about the prevalence of hunger in our community, and we accomplished that. With that being said, I can’t wait to take down Bettendorf next year.” The efforts raised by PV and other area schools will help to feed local families in the Quad Cities–a feat that is something to be very proud of.