Twenty Green Bay area schools collected a total of 16,284 pounds of food for this year's Packers Women's Association Food Drive. More than 8,000 total students participated in the drive that additionally supports the PWA program, which also is assisted by Festival Foods.
Packers players will visit three of the schools to recognize the students' efforts and congratulate them.
Notre Dame Elementary & Middle School, De Pere, took first place honors, collecting nearly 25 pounds of food per student. Notre Dame also captured top honors in 2003, '04, '06, '07 and '08. Kicker Mason Crosby will address students Friday, Dec. 18, at an all-school assembly at the Middle School.
Westwood Elementary School, De Pere, took second place honors for the third consecutive year, collecting 5.4 pounds per student. Safety Nick Collins will visit the school Tuesday, Dec. 22.
St. Mark Lutheran School, Green Bay, also will receive a visit from players when linebackers A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews make a stop Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The schools' efforts augment the approximately 22,400 non-perishable food items collected at the Packers-Lions game Oct. 18, as well as donations from Festival Foods and SuperValu, a food supplier to Festival Foods. A total of $11,619 also was received in cash donations this year.
Overall, in 23 years of conducting the food drive, the PWA has collected approximately 603,200 non-perishable food items and $226,069 for Paul's Pantry, a supplementary food distribution program for the needy in the greater Green Bay area.
