A high school football field became the staging ground for an enormous effort to help families facing food shortages, as students and volunteers came together to collect more than 250,000 pounds of food in New Jersey.
The remarkable haul was the result of a student-driven campaign that reached far beyond individual schools. Hundreds of young people participated in the second annual 100-Yard Food Drive Challenge, turning an idea centered on helping local neighbors into a statewide charitable undertaking.
The final collection was so large that organizers used Howell High School’s entire football field to accommodate the donations. Thousands of yellow bags filled the playing surface, creating a massive collection that established a new record for Dermer Dreams, the nonprofit behind the initiative.
Getting the donations to their final destinations required another major volunteer effort. Howell High School football players joined others in transferring the bags into rented trucks, which were then used to deliver the supplies to food distribution organizations.
About 30 food banks across New Jersey are benefiting from the collection. Among the organizations receiving donations are Lunch Break, Fulfill, Howell Food Bank, and Open Door in Freehold. The supplies will help these organizations provide assistance to residents who might otherwise struggle to afford groceries.
The project also highlights an effort to give teenagers a more active role in addressing problems within their own communities.
Dan and Alyse Dermer established their nonprofit in 2019. One of the programs they developed was designed to give high school students opportunities to organize neighborhood initiatives and participate in volunteer work. The Neighborhood Captain Program grew out of their recognition that many teenagers wanted to complete community service requirements but needed meaningful projects through which they could contribute.
Rather than simply assigning students volunteer duties, the program encourages them to take ownership of community projects. Participants help coordinate activities, involve neighbors, and bring additional volunteers into their efforts.
The food drive has become one of the organization’s biggest examples of what that approach can accomplish. Its first edition took place in 2025 at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. Students helped build participation and manage the collection, laying the groundwork for a much larger event this year.
For the organizers, the number of pounds collected is only part of the achievement. They also want participants to understand that community problems can be addressed through individual initiative and cooperation.
With hundreds of thousands of pounds of food now reaching organizations throughout the state, the challenge has provided immediate assistance to families while giving young volunteers an opportunity to develop skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
The hope is that the annual event will continue growing, bringing additional schools and volunteers into an effort that combines student leadership with practical help for families in need.
