Austin High School students are joining forces with community members to “drive out” principal Brad Bergstrom.

AHS is one of 27 schools participating in the Channel One Food Drive, with all of their donations benefiting the Salvation Army in Austin.

Food is being collected in the more than 70 Connect rooms (homerooms). The food will be weighed at noon Thursday in the commons area. The student council, National Honor Society and Chemical Health Awareness Initiative (CHAI) have been organizing the drive.

Their weigh-in also kicks off the “Drive Him Out” campaign — with a goal to fill the principal’s office with collections from students and community members. The weighed food will be moved into Bergstrom’s office that afternoon.

“Over the month, the food will start accumulating in his office,” adviser Kirsten Lindbloom said.

Bergstrom has one stipulation — leave him a pathway from the door to his desk.

If the office is filled, Lindbloom said, “then we will start taking over his assistant’s (Sue Stark) office.”

All food collected until Nov. 6 will be funneled through Channel One, but the Salvation Army will receive all of the donations.

“It absolutely will come back,” Lindbloom said.

She said the “Drive Him Out” campaign idea came after students and staff attended a Channel One kick-off; another school is filling a bus.

The student council, NHS and CHAI will also be “trick-or-treating” for food donations on Halloween. A dance will be held Oct. 30.

Each Wednesday this month, staff will pay $5 to wear jeans. The money will go toward buying food at-cost from Hy-Vee for the Salvation Army’s food pantry.

Food and cash donations for the “Drive Him Out” campaign are accepted at the AHS main office.