Students at two local schools have extended the hand of friendship to those less fortunate this holiday season.

The Rock Hill High School Spanish Club sponsored a school-side food drive that netted more than 2,000 cans of food, while students at Deering Elementary School donated food as well.

The food was donated to the food pantry at the Church of Christ in Ironton. Food pantry director Doug Elkins said the donations from the two schools are a godsend right now: food baskets are going out faster than donations are coming in.

"All the food that Ironton Junior High School gave us

(last month) is gone," Elkins said. "We had to shut down a couple days last month because we ran low on food. We've gotten to where we've had to cut back on the amount we've given to make sure we cover all the people. We don't want to do that but we've got make sure we cover everyone."

For RHHS students, the food drive is a holiday tradition. "We've done this every year for about 12 years," Rock Hill High School Spanish teacher Tamela Reed said. "We always get at least 2,000 cans. This year we got 2,250."

Reed said she hoped this gesture of friendship would be a symbol of "the true meaning of Christmas, giving to those who are less fortunate. The church distributes food to people all over the area. People go there weekly. They (the food pantry) really needed this."

Eric Holmes, Deering Elementary School principal, said he could not begin to estimate how much food his students raised in their week-long food drive. " I know it all wouldn't fit in the back of a pickup truck,"

Holmes said. "We've had an overwhelming response."

Apparently, one good turn deserves another: John Suitor, operator of Giovanni's in Coal Grove, donated pizzas for a party given to the Deering home room that contributed the most food.