Annual I30 Classic Pack the Pantry Food Drive sets record

Rockwall, TX (September 25, 2023) – One Rockwall County community event stands out every September – the Rockwall ISD and Toyota of Rockwall I30 Classic Pack the Pantry competition. The food drive benefiting Rockwall County Helping Hands is an annual event centered around the rival football game between Rockwall High School Yellow Jackets and Heath High School Hawks.

The significance of this food drive cannot be overstated.

“This is by far the largest food drive in the community and will stock the pantry with staples through the year until close to next summer” says Tarren Oswald, Director of Assistance and Referral. Adding that the need continues to grow as Helping Hands continues to see increases in the number of clients served and in the amount of food leaving the pantry each month, “We would have bare shelves year-round if not for the Toyota of Rockwall I30 Classic Pack the Pantry food drive.”

In fact, this year was a record-breaking year for the contest as a whole and the individual campuses!

Final results were announced at the sold-out Friday night football game, the total combined between both campuses was a staggering 50, 483 pounds of food items! More than the weight of an F-15 fighter jet! The individual campus records saw Rockwall High School with a total donation of 22,243 pounds and Heath High School just surpassing that with 28,240 pounds donated!

Overwhelmed with the results, Chris Curtis, RISD Sports Marketing and Media Coordinator, says “I was so impressed by what the students achieved this year! They did this all on their own through contests and ideas to generate support and donations.”

Starting at convocation each Student Council launches their drive hosting campus contests at the high schools and respective feeder campuses with prizes, friendly competition, social media campaigns, and more to drive campus and community support.

Rockwall High School got creative this year with Amazon lists and several contests that saw the girls’ Gymnastics team and three teachers each bringing in well over 1000 food items. “The Student Council Executive Committee worked tirelessly collecting, packaging, and delivering food to Helping Hands. I cannot be prouder of my students and their heart for the community” says Tim Watson, Rockwall High School Student Council Advisor.

Melissa Hatcher, Heath’s Student Council Advisor, says, “Our student leadership group worked tirelessly to spread the word and build excitement within our student body, organizations, sports teams, and community. We had great results and greatly appreciate the many community members and businesses (Chiloso Mexican Bistro, City of Heath, Heath Fire/Police, Tom Thumb Heath, KB Dental, CiCi’s Pizza, Hawks Donuts, One Firm, GMR, APC Concrete, Quincy Orthodontics, and John McCalmont Entertainment) who made significant donations.”

Congratulations to both Heath High School and Rockwall High School for another record-breaking success! While Heath may walk away with bragging rights, this event is so much more than a competition between schools; it is a service project that carries far greater weight.