On Thursday, September 28, local students, business partners and HSE School representatives convened at the 96^th Street Meijer to celebrate the local tradition known as PastaBowl.  The annual collection generated 13,880 lbs of pasta for more than 46 local food banks and food service organizations.

Students from Hoosier Road Elementary and Riverside Intermediate joined HSEHS Senior and Hamilton Southeastern School Board Member Hana Ghoneima to shop for a few more pounds of pasta to add to bulging crates of donated food.  The pasta is a core staple for area food banks and comes at an essential time during the pre-holiday months when donations are often critically low.

Nearly as important as the food donations, PastaBowl also raises awareness for the 3,000 local children struggling with food insecurities.  And quite simply, when students are hungry, it can be hard to learn.  However, PastaBowl has a second message that is just as important.  When a community rallies toward a common goal, it can make a difference!

A food drive of this magnitude is not possible without the army of donors, but also the behind the scenes support of Meijer, ProShred, Harvest Food Bank, Citizens State Bank, the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation, and all 21 HSE Schools.