With Thanksgiving right around the corner, people are starting to stock up on food and prepare to celebrate. But for some families in our community, the holiday is not a very festive occasion because of the steep costs of their meal. Harriton’s National Honor Society is running its annual food drive to provide families in Montgomery County with Thanksgiving dinners.

NHS assigns a particular advisory to each family. Within each advisory, students volunteer to contribute certain foods, and it is suggested that students donate $2 or more to help the family buy a turkey. When every person brings in their share, the total contributions ensure that the family will have the food they need in order to have a Thanksgiving feast.

Videos sponsored by NHS have been playing in advisories to encourage donations. On November 13, one video showed not only the general impact of giving to others on the recipient (a boy gives McDonald’s to a grateful and surprised homeless man) but also the need for generosity from those who have the most. The people who were relaxing in the mall were much less willing to share their food than the homeless men who arguably had better reasons to keep it. This video warmed hearts for its message of giving, but it should also stimulate our minds on ways we can continue our altruism throughout the year.

As Ms. Harvey, a Harriton physics teacher, puts it, the food drive is a “great way to get involved in the community and to give back.” Bringing in food is a simple action that goes a long way to touch the lives of people who need our help. If you haven’t yet contributed, there is still time to do so up until the afternoon of Tuesday, November 17.