Mentor High School Helps Feed Lake County

showed its support for  Feed Lake County Drive by collecting thousands of pounds of food for people who need it.

The students capped their weeklong food drive by packing up their donation and shipping them out Friday.

United Way of Lake County's annual collection effort will help fill cupboards for 51 area food banks.

Though the UWLC did not know exactly how much was donated Friday, last year Mentor High School gave 12,000 pounds and the school district, as a whole, donated 20,000.

"We're proud of the kids for supporing the community that supports them," said Kristen Kirby, a spokeswoman for Mentor Schools.

Feed Lake County kicked off this year with a sculpture contest at . Companies donated almost 5,000 pounds of food and .

It will continue this March 31 at the Mentor mall. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., anyone in the community can come by and drop off nonperishable food or paper products.

The most-requested items are soups, canned fruits and vegetables, tuna fish and other canned meats, macaroni and cheese and other boxed meals, beef stew or other ready meals, peanut butter and jelly, pasta and sauce, cereals and breakfast foods, toilet tissue and other personal care items.

No homemade food will be accepted.

United Way hopes to collect 60,000 pounds of food and raise $60,000 during this year's food drive.

If you are interested in hosting a food drive, you can contact Gayle Sikula at 440-639-1082.