Lovell High School FFA food drive nets windfall for food pantry

A spur of the moment decision by the Lovell High School FFA chapter to hold a Halloween food drive has resulted in a bonanza for the Lovell Food Pantry.

LHS ag teacher and FFA advisor Nick Edelman said Tuesday that the FFA decided just last week to fan out into the community for the Monday evening food drive, and the results are astounding.

Edelman said about 25 students went door to door Monday in the Lovell/Cowley area for the trick-or-treat food drive for canned goods. Expecting to gather about 500 items, the drive produced more than 1,600 items, he said.

Students paired up in a chapter contest to see who could collect the most cans, and the duo of Jayden Tippetts and Owen Hill gathered 381 items themselves.

“It was way better than we thought it would be,” Edelman said. “We’re pretty unbelievably lucky and blessed to live in a community like this.”

The Lovell Food Pantry is open every Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the back door of the United Methodist Church or by appointment by calling 307-272-2037.