Although they may not have won the Channel One Food Drive competition, Austin High School raised more than 12,500 pounds of food this fall.

AHS won the food drive last year, but raised much more food this year. Channel One Food Bank and Food Shelf hosted the competition, which included 20 schools across southeast Minnesota.

This year, all participating schools raised about 77,000 pounds of food, according to Sharon Alms, the adviser to AHS’s National Honors Society. Area schools collected about 53,000 pounds of food last year, with Tyson Foods distributing about 28,000 pounds of protein amongst the schools to give to their local food shelves. In order to win, schools had to raise the most pounds of food per student, in order to give smaller schools a fair chance at winning.

“We did come in second in spirit,” said Kirsten Lindbloom, AHS’s Chemical Health Action Initiative coordinator.

The NHS and CHAI are among many different groups at the high school, such as AHS’s student council, Diversity club and Youth Leadership that are encouraging students to get as much donated food as they can. Students brought in food during the annual Homecoming Battle of the Connects for extra points, along with fundraising efforts at various sporting events, such as the last volleyball home game on Oct. 19 and the Harvest Bowl, which was free to anyone who brought in two non-perishable food items or more.

More than 40 High school students went out trick or treating for donations on Halloween in one of the big donation events planned, according to Alms. AHS’s Youth Leadership Team, which normally collects food shelf donations, gave permission for students to sign up and get more kids on routes across the town.

Halloween alone brought in about 1,700 pounds of food. Another 1,700 pounds came from a fundraiser at Hy-Vee where for three hours on a Friday night and three hours on a Saturday morning residents could donate food for the cause. On top of that, Ellis Middle School’s recent food drive was added to the high school’s total as well, making the competition more of a community event than it already was.

“I think that’s awesome,” said NHS president Michael Lindahl. “Considering the economy, getting that much food with everyone participating is a pretty good accomplishment.”

AHS isn’t done giving it seems, as several students mentioned they’re already planning for next year.