Paly may fail to meet the ambitious 20,000 lb. goal for this year’s holiday canned food drive, according to teachers of previous winning fourth period classes.

Of these teachers, some do not have nearly as many class donations at this point in time as in the past, and one is not participating at all.

Last year, for example, Jaclyn Edward’s U.S. History class collected 1,770 lbs., yet to date, Edward said her fourth period class has only collected an estimated 250 to 300 lbs. In addition, last year’s fourth period Film Composition and Literature class, taught by Kaye Paugh, won by collecting a total of 2,881 lbs., according to an article <http://voice.paly.net/view_story?id=2459> posted on The Paly Voice this time last year titled "Paugh, Edwards beat Foug in record-breaking food drive." This year, however, Paugh has no fourth period class. Another strong competitor, Steve Foug, whose history class won three years in a row from 2001 to 2003, estimates that his fourth period United States Government class this year has only roughly half the total 1,762 lbs. collected by last year’s class.

“People are definitely talking about it as much, but I have the gut feeling it [total pounds collected] won’t be as much as last year,” Foug said.

In Focus had hoped to encourage greater school participation by raising the school goal from 12,000 to 20,000 lbs. Last year’s impressive school-wide collection of 10,291 lbs. inspired In Focus to establish this year’s optimistic 20,000 lb. goal. As a class, In Focus has pledged to collect 5,000 lbs., about half the number collected by Paly in 2004, according to senior In Focus producer John Schairer.

“We felt that Paly was capable of a higher goal,” Schairer said.

“Last year our goal was 1,500 lbs. and we got over 10,000 lbs.,” Youth Community Service club president, junior Caterina Yuan said.

With donations still being accepted through Friday, Dec. 9, In Focus is encouraging school-wide participation to meet the demanding goal, and is even more adamant about winning this year’s competition.

“We’re a force,” Schairer said. “There’s no way we’re [In Focus] going to lose.”

To meet this year’s goal, In Focus also hopes to serve as a pacing mechanism for Paly by running informational segments on poverty and hunger, similar to the segment it aired this Oct. 6.

“We have a unique position,” Schairer said. “Our segments will take a constructive look at the issue.”

By airing the Dec. 1 chronicle of a Costco trip, in which staff members used class contributions to purchase approximately 1,800 lbs. of food, In Focus hoped to show Paly how easy it is to contribute, Schairer said.

To participate in the YCS Holiday Food Drive, donations of nonperishable food, such as canned fruit or vegetables, peanut butter, juice boxes, canned meat, and low-sugar cereals, are greatly encouraged, according to Yuan. Yuan discourages donations of bulk rice, sugar, and flour because they lack great nutritional value. Though heavy bags of rice were popular donations last year, Yuan hopes that students buying food specifically for this year’s drive will purchase something more nutritious.

Foug has mixed feelings about whether his class will win this year’s contest.

“Those 50 lb. rice bags [discouraged this year, but still donated by some] are hard to beat, but I still have hope. The good thing, though, is that my class is motivated and positive about the whole experience.”

Students who do not have a fourth period class, but still wish to participate, can drop off donations in the Second Harvest Food Bank barrel labeled “Donate Food Here,” located in the library.

While financial donations are welcome, money donated will not count in Paly’s contest, Yuan said. Nonetheless, for every dollar donated, Second Harvest is able to provide two nutritious meals to those in need, according to the Second Harvest Food Bank Web site.

Although Paly’s food drive donations are substantial, they are small in comparison to the total number of pounds Second Harvest collects during its Holiday Food Drive. According to its Web site, “Second Harvest Food Bank runs the largest Holiday Food Drive campaign in the nation, collecting 1.7 million lbs. of food and $3.7 million in 2003.” In 2004, its Holiday Food Drive collected 28 million lbs. of food, feeding an average of 156,000 people per month. Of those fed, 60 percent were low-income families, 37 percent children, and 20 percent seniors, according to the Second Harvest Food Bank Web site.

“We always collect food, but no one ever knows where it goes,” In Focus teacher Mike McNulty said.

To educate the Paly community, In Focus plans to air a segment Thursday, Dec. 8, that will highlight local food banks and the impact of Paly’s donations. With cans piled high on the set, In Focus hopes to use this visual reminder to encourage students to meet this year’s ambitious school goal by the Dec. 9 contest deadline.

“Feeding people who need food seems to me the least we can do,” McNulty said.

Yuan hopes to break the suspense by announcing the winning class by Dec. 16, right before students depart for Winter Break.