Over the past three weeks, together we have collected 53,000 items of healthy, nutritious foods for people in need throughout Marin and San Francisco, as part of our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. This year’s total is the most we have collected in recent years. With 60,000 residents in Marin County currently in need of food assistance, these donations will surely be needed.

Throughout November, all of our students—from our youngest kindergarteners to our oldest seniors—have shared in this rewarding experience, learning about social justice and food insecurity issues, engaging in service learning, and celebrating community. Student teams compete in friendly challenges to incentivize donations and build spirit. Faculty and staff get in on the fun, as well, with Head of School Cecily Stock among a group of brave (and cold!) souls who withstood a deluge of rotten pumpkin guts poured over their heads!

The Food Drive culminates in the annual loading of the food donation truck, when our community works together to transfer, fire-brigade style, thousands of food items from storage barrels to the truck containers before sending it off to our friends at the SF Marin Food Bank. And with today’s annual loading of the food truck coinciding with Grandparents and Special Friends Day, it was such a joy to see multiple generations of SD families taking action in service of our neighbors in need.

Enjoy the slide show, and thank you for all your support and community spirit!