The pickup and panel trucks backed up to the front door of Ironton High School Thursday and in a few minutes drove away with cases and cases of canned food.

This Christmas, some needy area families will have something to eat, thanks to the generosity of the IHS students, faculty and staff. Within the last two weeks, the school family collected 3,251 food items to give to area food pantries.

“This will help us a lot,” said David Nunnally, food pantry director for Central Christian Church. “We’ve got a fund we work out of, but it’s only $5,000. After that, we rely on donations.”

Bill Spanner, who also works in the Central Christian food pantry, added, “We don’t get government food. We have to get food the best way we can.”

IHS student Cody Quillen was chosen to spearhead the food drive this year. He said he was pleased with the results.

“They’ve done an amazing job,” he said of his fellow students.

Principal Joe Rowe agreed.

“I am really proud of them. They worked hard.”

If the food drive was meant to help alleviate the hardships some area families are facing, students found hard work and helping others has its own personal reward.

“It just gives a sense of pleasure in helping someone besides ourselves,” IHS junior Alisha Robinson said. “IT is better to give than to receive.”