Tamaqua Area School District students recently collected tons of nonperishable food for the needy.

Classes in the elementary school that brought the most canned foods to the drive won prizes.

Catrina Mehallic of the Salvation Army reached out to the elementary school’s PTO, which organized the drive in mid-November.

“We created it as a schoolwide competition for the students,” said Vanessa Boyle of the PTO. “We were planning ‘turkey games’ for our elementary students as a gift from the PTO to the students for Thanksgiving.”

In addition, the class that brought in the most donations earned extra time at a bounce house obstacle course. The second place class enjoyed lunch with Principal Lisa Shirvinski. The third place class gets extra recess.

“We never imagined the response we would receive,” Boyle said.

Mehallic was also pleased with the donations from the school and others who helped the Salvation Army.

“Our selves are full and I am so thankful for the help from our community,” she said.