From Nov. 16 to Nov 20, Bel Air High School collected about 300 cans of food through their 6th annual Thanksgiving food drive to feed Thanksgiving dinners to individuals in their community suffering from poverty.

During the food drive, the homerooms collected various assigned non-perishable and canned food items such as cranberry sauce, tomato sauce, mac and cheese, and instant mashed potatoes. On November 20 at 3:00 p.m., teachers from the school gathered at the school’s parking lot to gather the food that had been collected, and transported to Saint Margaret’s Church in Bel Air. From the Church, the food was then transported to the Harford County Food Bank it was distributed to various families throughout the community.

Gregory Komondor, principal of Bel Air High School, stated, “It started out as jeans days and on those days we would give money to certain charities throughout the community. When we heard the food bank;’s supply was going to be low for food that first year, we decided to help out, since then on the food drive has become a yearly tradition.”

Throughout America, there are 578,424 people suffering from poverty each year with about 135,701 children suffering from poverty nationwide. Only 64% of homeless individuals live in homeless shelters the remaining 31% of end up living on the streets. In Maryland, there are 750,000 people each year who are unable to access enough food.

3.7 million Individuals worldwide suffer malnutrition which can cause both permanent and temporary physical and mental negative health effects and is commonly caused to a lack of available food. Malnutrition causes: a weak immune system, stunted growth, impaired learning, lower IQ, memory problems, learning disabilities, reduced communication skills, reduced problem solving skills, drastic weight loss, fatigue, muscle dystrophy, depression, low body heat,    diarrhea, dizziness, bleeding or swollen gums, irritability, poor coordination skills, slow reflexes, and anemia ( a condition where the body is unable to produce enough hemoglobin caused by a lack of iron which leads to a lack of oxygen flowing through the body). Over long periods of time it can lead to: hypothermia, respiratory failure, organ failure, starvation, fertility problems, and urinary infections. Many individuals that suffer from malnutrition also suffer vitamin deficiency in one or multiple vitamins which leads to: scurvy, abnormal heartbeat, kidney disease, numbness in one’s appendages, hallucinations, skin problems, bone and joint disorders, breathlessness, and a lack of other vitamins and minerals that need another to be absorbed by the body.

Logan Burnett, a student at Bel Air High School, stated, “I think it’s important for us to hold the food drive because it’s important to give to others, especially around the holiday season. I think many people don’t realize the poverty around them.”

Great job bringing in food this year Bobcats, Bel Air High School continues to make a difference in their community. Keep up the giving for the rest of this holiday season.