Every year around the holidays, Cascade High School’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organizes a food drive in preparation for an FBLA competitive event.
In the past, students have created a competition between Flex classes to motivate students to donate; however, this year they tried something different. Students were asked to participate in what was dubbed “Battle of the Food Banks”: a competition between Plain Pantry and the Leavenworth Community Cupboard. Students brought non-perishable goods to the CHS foyer and selected which of the two organizations their donation would benefit.
The Plain Pantry, according to their website, is a ministry of the Plain Community Church with a mission of “provid[ing] a way for Plain Community Church to purposely embrace our community by offering food assistance and resources, along with hope and peace through Jesus Christ.” The pantry itself is located next to the church in Plain and offers other programs, a community garden and composting program, in addition to the non-perishable food available due to drives like that organized by FBLA.
Leavenworth Community Cupboard, is described on their website as “a shopping model-style food pantry, open six days a week and accessible to anyone in need, with no geographical restrictions.” Thier mission is to be provide “everyone” with “access to healthy food”. Their “food pantry serves over 1,000 individuals monthly.” As part of its food assistance programs, Upper Valley MEND also runs a gleaning program and mobile produce pantry.
The “Battle”, orchestrated by members of CHS FBLA, ran from November 1 – 25, but the planning started well before the event itself. FBLA executive officers, President Emma Radach (11), Vice President Kaylee Lewis (11), Treasurer Elliot Tiegel (10) and Advisor Tammy Murphy began by contacting local businesses and community members to help with the drive.
Their goal this year was to raise more food than in previous years and provide the greater Leavenworth/Plain communities with food. Last year they raised over 400 cans of food that were split between these two food banks.
“Many store owners already donate to the food banks, however we believe that it is important that it comes from the students,” explained Tiegel.
FBLA set up stations at all the Cascade School District schools and, well on their way to achieving their goal, club members had raised 200 cans by mid-November.
“We think [the food drive] is important because we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to have dinner on Thanksgiving,” said Lewis.
Although the drive ended on November 25 and members of FBLA delivered their donations to the food banks, both organizations face ongoing needs and the work for FBLA members has just begun.
Members of the CHS club will now prepare for their competition in the “Community Service Project” portion of FBLA’s State competition. They will be required to prepare "a 17-page report due by May 13, 2025” detailing the project’s “specific goals” and “service to the community and its citizens”. They must “describe the planning, development, and implementation of the project”, “show evidence of the publicity received”, “report benefits to and degree of impact on the school and/or community” and “evaluate the project”.
If you are interested in helping FBLA and these organizations, visit www.uvmend.org/food to learn more about the Leavenworth Community cupboard or www.plaincommunitychurch.org/thepantry.html to learn about The Plain Pantry.
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