Cats Care and Student Council are partnering together to collect food for the De Soto Food Pantry during the Halloween season.

The food drive starts on Oct. 27 when students drop off bags on the doorsteps of various community members and ends on Nov. 3 when students pick up the bags. The food is then sorted and brought to the pantry on Nov. 5.

This year both clubs are hoping to receive a large amount of donations for the pantry.

“Last year we raised almost 1,800 items for the De Soto Food Pantry that were not expired. Our goal is to increase that amount and provide for them,” said Cats Care sponsor Lindsay O’Neil.

Members of the De Soto community and surrounding communities are also able to donate non-perishable food items and basic hygiene products. Acceptable hygiene products include laundry detergent, hair products, feminine products, diapers, wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, wipes and dish detergent.

These products allow the De Soto Food Pantry to restock their shelves and provide for the community.

“At Christmas and Thanksgiving their [the De Soto Food Pantry] shelves are full, but there are times when they are less full and this is one of those times where they really need food,” O’Neil said.

The food and supplies collected directly benefit those in the community who are in need.

According to senior STUCO president Caroline Whipple, De Soto is a “very close knit community” and this food drive maintains that by helping “all diversity ranges.”

For those DHS students who do not receive a bag on their doorstep and still want to help the community, there will be a box in the front office to donate food and other supplies.

For more information or questions about the food drive contact O’Neil at [email protected].