Kentwood High students fought the battle against hunger this year with the Munch Madness event.

“I am proud to say my school hosts Munch Madness every November,” Kentwood senior Nicole Schreiber said.

“Last year alone, our school raised 30,000 pounds of food for Puget Sound food banks, and this year we hope to reach and surpass last year’s goal.

Kentwood students reached out to neighborhoods, friends, and grocery stores, according to Schreiber.

With the economy taking a toll on everyone, the need for food is greater. Food banks are struggling to provide for everyone, since demand for donations increased and donations are down.

Kentwood High School’s athletic and activities coordinator, Jo Anne Daughtry said, “We started the term last year and last year’s goal was 10,000 pounds of food,

Classes were broken into brackets, just as if competing in March Madness and the 64-team brackets collected canned and non-perishable food.

Daughtry said last year, Kentwood collected approximately 22,000 pounds of food, not counting water and rice donations. She said the amount collected this year is 23,000 pounds, not including water and rice.

Mrs. Donaldson’s class brought in 7,000 pounds of food and was the winner of Munch Madness.

The Kent School District delivered the collection, which filled 17 palltes, to the Maple Valley Food Bank and Kent Food Bank.

Kentwood High student Alyssa Nagai contributed her photographs for the slide show.