Mercer Island band collects over six tons of food during annual drive

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The annual Mercer Island High School band food drive collected over six tons of food and $1,500 for Mercer Island Youth and Family Services and Northwest Harvest on April 2 and 3.

The MIHS band has been collecting food for the past seven years as a community service activity. All high school band members, roughly 300 students freshman through seniors, participate in this event.

The mellophone section of the band won with a total of 126 pounds of food collected per person, while the trumpets collected the most total weight at 3,030 pounds.

“Not only does the band provide sustenance for our music passions and needs, but also through their leadership and service, our band students are providing nourishment and basic needs for the whole community, through this volunteer-based, community service project,” said Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano.

An event of this size only happens with the dedication and help of many people — parent volunteer drivers, band directors, community band sponsors and students. This year’s food drive was organized and led by two student volunteers, Adrian Ashley and Alison Rorem.

The Mercer Island School District’s band program serves nearly 1,000 students, which comprises 40 percent of the students enrolled in grades five through 12.

The band instructors teach students from all six of Mercer Island’s schools daily.