SGA collects thousands of cans

The SGA collected more than 2000 cans for this year's canned food drive, according to the drive's head organizer, Shewit Woldu.

The fourth-period class that brought in the most cans, approximately 1200, was Magnet computer science teacher Dennis Heidler's class. They will be rewarded with a pizza lunch sponsored by the National Honor Society.

Magnet math teacher Eric Walstein, Heidler's primary competition, recalled the history of the canned food drive. "The canned food drive goes way back to the old Blair,” said Walstein. The original drive, which began 10 years ago, happened every Thanksgiving with a donut breakfast as a prize. "One day, I announced that I'd make omelets, and the students got excited,” Walstein explained. "They were like, 'Oh! He's gonna make omelets!'” Eventually, Walstein said, what his students were actually fighting for was an omelet breakfast.

Whether the prize was omelets, donuts or pizza, the canned food drive encouraged enough students to bring in thousands of cans of food for the homeless. "The kids are very philosophic about it; they want to help people,” said Walstein.

Walstein has historically won the drives, but this year, his 923 cans lost to Heidler's 1,200. "Everyone [was] expecting me to win,” commented Walstein. Walstein seemed to be in the lead earlier in the drive, but Heidler came in and defeated him.

One year, the winning class hoarded cans in closets and brought them out at the last second to surprise Walstein's class. "At the last day of the drive, [the rival class] wielded cart after cart after cart of cans," said Walstein. "Because we did so well, SGA gave both of us a party."

Only about half of Blair's fourth-period classes brought in at least one can, according to Woldu. She attributed the lack of participation to Blair teachers, saying, "some teachers didn't even remind their classes about the drive."

Walstein argues that participation in the drive relied on Blair teachers' commitment. "The school is asking for help. The [teacher] has to decide on their priority."

One Blair foreign language teacher forgot about the drive. "I was totally oblivious," she said. "I don't listen to "Info Flow" because I'm already busy with the agenda.” The teacher recommended that SGA create a flyer that informs the when, what and where aspects of the drive. "I need something colorful to put up, something to tell me what to do. I need something that says, 'Please post this in your classroom.'"

In promoting the drive, the SGA created posters and placed announcements on "Info Flow." "We came to every classroom and collected cans,” explained Woldu. "Anybody who didn't know about the canned food drive knew because we came to every class."

The total amount of cans was 3,000 short of number needed to reach another proposed prize for the student body, a $3 price cut for this year's winter dance. The price will remain at $5.