Our students have a daunting task ahead of them this Thanksgiving season!

In a state where food insecurity affects nearly 200,000 children daily, we have come together with an extraordinary school-wide food drive called STUFF THE BUS. Calais staff and students are now working together to fill up an entire bus with non-perishable food items that will be donated to Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry.

This is not the first food drive at Calais but it will be the first time that students, faculty and staff will attempt to fill an entire bus and compete by homeroom to donate the most!

When asked about the challenge at-hand, Kim Goldberg, Calais’ IT Coordinator and co-spearhead of the food drive shared, “I’m feeling really proud of the Calais Community for coming together to make a difference. We are only a few days in and the school’s lobby is already filling up with donations. Let’s keep it coming!”

The drive began on November 2nd and will continue through November 16 when the Calais bus, hopefully filled from front to back with donations, will be driven to the food pantry to feed New Jersey’s hungry.

“Empathy, compassion, and caring for others have always been a continual theme in the day-to-day life at Calais. But it’s especially important for us to come together during the holiday season to support our local community,” explains Tony Martin, Calais’ Technology Teacher who is also spearheading the food drive.

We are also opening the food drive to the public. Now through November 16th you can help our students in their fight against food insecurity by donating.

Contributions can be dropped off at The Calais School at 45 Highland Avenue in Whippany between the hours of 8:30am – 2:00pm, weekdays. Just look for our donation box outside the Calais building by the main entrance.

Non-Perishable Food Needed

  • Boxed Items: mashed potatoes, stuffing mixes, Mac and cheese, cake mixes and pastas
  • Drinks: water, juice, evaporated milk
  • Canned/bottled goods: corn, creamed corn and other vegetables, cranberry sauce, canned meats and broth, fruit cocktail, gravy and pasta sauce *Please check expiration dates. Only non-expired food will be accepted

Check the Calais School Facebook page as we update our progress.