Chelmsford Middle School Drive Helps Lowell Salvation Army

CHELMSFORD, MA — McCarthy Middle School's annual food drive gathered enough nonperishable food for Lowell's Salvation Army to make more than 10,000 meals, according to the organization.

"We are using a lot of that food right now," Dianne James of the Salvation Army said. "The bulk of it is going to families who are sick with COVID-19."

The middle school's annual contribution is among the largest the Salvation Army receives and helps feed their guests well past the holidays, she said. And that's a relief, she said, because the pandemic has only increased demand.

The middle school's food drive, called Project 300, recently completed its 44th year and organizers were originally worried that the pandemic and distance learning might result in fewer donations.

“When we announced the final number (16,961) to the kids, they were ecstatic,” organizer Tom Gallagher said. “Halfway through the week, people said the goal (of 15,000 items) was too high, that it wasn’t attainable. It’s a tribute to the kids, their parents, the faculty and the community members who were involved, whether they brought in one item or whether they dined at either Brickhouse Pizza.”

Brickhouse Pizza of North Chelmsford and Chelmsford Center, owned by Mike Brown and Charlie Micol, donated 50 percent of a day of their dine-in, takeout and delivery food orders.

“Their donation put us over the top," Gallagher said.

Previously: McCarthy Middle School Begins Annual Food Drive