The senior class at Pleasant Valley High School hopes to collect 2,022 boxes of macaroni and cheese dinner for the West End Food Pantry by Oct. 29.

They have a good start - about 700 boxes.

The food raiser is part of Melissa Ruschak’s senior career portfolio classes, and she’s been doing this for years.

“We’re doing this as a community service project,” she said.

In years past, the senior classes have done a veggie drive, collected tuna fish, and even collected 10,000 boxes of macaroni and cheese three years ago.

Ruschak said she doesn’t think that many boxes will be collected this year, because it is a little harder to ask people with COVID-19 floating around.

She’s happy though with the progress that the kids are making so far.

Ian Wolff said his workplace, Weis Markets, donated 76 boxes.

“He took the initiative to ask them if they would donate,” Ruschak said.

Sean Droll said one of his teachers offered to give his class half of the period off if they raised $25 to purchase the boxes. When that seemed pretty doable, the teacher upped the ante and said he’d give them the whole class period off if they raised $75. They did.

Droll said one of his classmates bought the food on behalf of the class, but he donated some money and liked being a part of something to help others.

“We collected more than I thought we would,” said Eve Kratzer. She said she knew her class could pull together to make the food drive a success, but it was still surprising how far they have come already.

The students said they hope the kids that get the macaroni cheese, which is one of their personal favorites as well, enjoy the pasta.

“I hope all the families enjoy it,” said Samuel Knudsen.

In addition to the high school, he middle and intermediate schools are also collecting macaroni and cheese for the food pantry.