The primary and the intermediate grade levels at Dassa McKinney Elementary School are locked in a battle to see which grade levels can collect more canned foods and hygiene donations.

Despite the contested race to collect more donations, the drive is meant to stock the Moniteau Food Pantry and “Share the Love” around Valentine’s Day.

“We try to pick something in the community to help different things,” said Lindsey Doolin, a fifth-grade teacher at Dassa McKinney Elementary who is coordinating the food drive. “The food pantry needs to be replenished, and February would be a good time to do it. It's also a way to teach kids to help in their community.”

Dassa McKinney has hosted a food drive for the pantry for several years, except for 2021. Doolin said the school surpassed its collection goal of 2,020 items in 2020, and she hopes to collect 2,022 items this year.

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