New Jersey students collect record amount of food for local families

Hundreds of New Jersey students collected more than 250,000 pounds of food for families in need during a charity event at Howell High School.

The students participated in the second annual 100-Yard Food Drive Challenge, an initiative organized by the nonprofit Dermer Dreams. This effort resulted in the largest food drive in the history of the organization. The donation bags covered the entire football field, requiring volunteers to place extra bags along the sidelines to accommodate the volume.

The project began with students gathering food from their own neighborhoods. Local businesses, families, and volunteers eventually joined the effort, turning the student-led project into a large community initiative. The food will be distributed to approximately 30 food bank partners across New Jersey to assist people facing food insecurity. The event is part of the Neighborhood Captain Program, which allows students to lead food drives and develop leadership skills while earning community service hours.

After the collection finished, the Howell High School football team and volunteers loaded the bags onto trucks for delivery. Dan Dermer, a co-founder of Dermer Dreams, said the students united communities and demonstrated the power of collective action.