This Thanksgiving, GDS’ student-run Environmental Task Force (ETF) is partnering with the lower/middle school to run a food drive.
A food drive has been a topic of conversation in ETF’s brainstorming meetings since the beginning of the year, when junior Teresa Dean brought the idea up. Since then, the club has worked hard to put plans for the drive in motion, divvying up tasks and getting to work. The food drive will run until Tuesday, Nov. 19, and is focused on collecting non-perishable food, especially Thanksgiving food items. (Dean is a reporter for the Bit.)
Sophomore Mina Holtzman, one of ETF’s three heads, said the ETF does “lots of projects within GDS and also outside to deal with issues regarding the environment,” along with “small projects, for example the food drive.”
Holtzman said last year the club advocated to the DC Council on issues regarding the Environmental Justice Amendment Act. Holtzman said her experience at the DC Council was “really rewarding” and contributed to her interest in ETF and stepping into a leadership role in the club.
According to Holtzman, ETF has 20–30 members—the number changing throughout the year based on attendance at meetings—and works on issues both locally and on a national scale. Last year, ETF focused on bringing awareness of environmental issues to GDS. Holtzman specifically liked the awareness project because of its impact on and its incorporation of the high school community.
The Thanksgiving food drive is in cooperation with the lower/middle school, where they are also running a food drive. All the food collected in both drives will be donated to Bread For The City, a non-profit organization that provides resources to low-income Washingtonians.
In an effort to involve the high school community, whichever grade contributes the most to the drive will be rewarded with pizza for their commitment and work. Students can contribute by bringing the non-perishable goods to their grade’s designated box outside the high school office.
Junior Charlotte Glendinning is an ETF club member who has taken on a leadership role in the food drive. She said she doesn’t have high expectations, as she recognizes the commitment it takes to contribute, but wants to collect as much as possible. “I know people are really busy and that [donating] would be a bit more of a burden for some people,” she said.
“I just think it’s important that everyone, regardless of their resources, can get a nice Thanksgiving dinner,” Glendinning said.
Senior Grace Zia, another club head, has been a long-time contributor to ETF. Since joining the club as a freshman, Zia has had the opportunity to participate in political activism, food donations and more. Now, as a club head, Zia is working to help facilitate the current food drive. “As one of the heads, it’s my role to help people bring their ideas to fruition,” she said.
Zia has organized jobs for club members, helped in advertisement, created flyers and offered other help to the drive. She said the club intends to continue the Thanksgiving food drive and make it an annual tradition. “However this goes this year, we can take it and learn from it.”