Chelmsford's Parker Middle School Food Drive Surpasses Goal

CHELMSFORD, MA — Parker Middle School's Food Drive provided Thanksgiving dinners for 32 families of Parker students, Chelmsford Public Schools announced Monday.

Those in charge of the drive said the school was able to donate more than twice as many meals as it had originally hoped to provide. The school's original goal was 15 meals, organizers said.

"I am so appreciative of all the support from everyone in our school community," said Julia Gannon, a Parker Middle School social worker and the organizer of the drive. "Families and staff really stepped up to participate in this food drive and I can't believe that we crushed our goal and put together bags for 32 families."

Previously run by science teacher Barbara Mayotte — who has since retired — the food drive has been on hold in recent years due to the pandemic.

Gannon has expanded the drive to include all grades — 5th through 8th — after it had just been for 7th and 8th grades in recent years.

"This was the first time in recent years that we have had a school-wide Thanksgiving drive," Gannon said. "I realized we needed to get it going again and that we would be able to get more contributions (from a school-wide drive) as opposed to the two grades."

Between Nov. 7-17, Parker students were asked to collect Thanksgiving dinner items from Parker families and school staff. Among the items collected were: stuffing mix, instant potatoes, canned gravy, pie crust and other fixings.

Students also collected $25 supermarket gift cards that enabled recipients to purchase turkeys.

Last week, members of Stand Up Parker met up at the school to organize the donations before the meals were distributed. All extra non-perishable items were donated to the Chelmsford Food Pantry.