The spirit of Thanksgiving is alive and well in Portal.
First Sgt. Randall Walker and members of the Portal Middle High School JROTC Program spearheaded the group's 22nd annual food drive, which collected more than 1,000 food items for less fortunate families in the community.
The collection began in early October and ended last week.
The students delivered entire Thanksgiving meals to 16 families in the Portal area. According to Walker, the food drive was a collective effort between Portal Elementary and the Middle /High School. Employees, students and community members donated 16 turkeys, a ham, and various other items, in an effort to provide a memorable Thanksgiving for several struggling families.
"The students were humbled by the experience... and seeing the ‘thanks' in (people's) eyes," Walker said.
Former JROTC instructor Master Sgt. Bill Rogers also assisted with the food drive.
After recently retiring from Portal, Rogers has returned to temporarily fill a vacant teaching position.
"The community really responded this year," he said, "and I am proud that we could give a little back to the community."
First Sgt. Randall Walker and members of the Portal Middle High School JROTC Program spearheaded the group's 22nd annual food drive, which collected more than 1,000 food items for less fortunate families in the community.
The collection began in early October and ended last week.
The students delivered entire Thanksgiving meals to 16 families in the Portal area. According to Walker, the food drive was a collective effort between Portal Elementary and the Middle /High School. Employees, students and community members donated 16 turkeys, a ham, and various other items, in an effort to provide a memorable Thanksgiving for several struggling families.
"The students were humbled by the experience... and seeing the ‘thanks' in (people's) eyes," Walker said.
Former JROTC instructor Master Sgt. Bill Rogers also assisted with the food drive.
After recently retiring from Portal, Rogers has returned to temporarily fill a vacant teaching position.
"The community really responded this year," he said, "and I am proud that we could give a little back to the community."