This week, Air Academy will help collect non-perishable food items for families in need in 31 southern Colorado counties.

Harvest of Love is a three-week food drive from Oct.28-Nov. 22, dedicated to making sure that no family will go unfed during the holidays.

“In Colorado, 596,150 people are struggling with hunger – and of them 177,360 are children,” according to the Feeding America Foundation.

The Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado reached out to the community to raise support for the food drive. Grocery stores, small groups, individuals, churches, and multiple schools in the region have partnered together to collect food for the cause. For many years now, Air Academy High School has had the opportunity to help end the insecurity of food in our community through Harvest of Love.

Harvest of Love reaches people “around us [who] are less fortunate [and who] deserve to have support from those that are able to give it,” said Student Council teacher Kali Maxwell.

As an Air Academy Kadet, join hands with Care and Share and make an impact this week as the school fundraises for Harvest of Love.

“I think it’s important to help out the community because we live in it and we should take pride in it,” said freshman Kianna Gray. 

Harvest of Love week here at AAHS, lasting from Nov. 4- 8, is filled with exciting activities to promote fundraising. 

This week gives students “the opportunity to give back to the community” and to help “improve our culture at AAHS for future generations,” said senior Maddie Montoya. 

All week long, the school will be having spirit days to excite students and faculty to bring in food to school to donate. Every day the theme of the spirit day will correlate with a non-perishable food: bring cereal for “PJ Monday,” canned veggies for “Country vs. Country Club Tuesday,” colored cans for “Class Color Day Wednesday,” canned fruit for “Tacky Tourist Thursday,” and spare change for “Iced-Out Friday.”

Then, at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 6, the annual dodge ball tournament in the big gym will be taking place. Students can form a team for $20 and compete to win for charity and free t-shirts. Winners will battle against teachers at the assembly on Friday. 

“Dodgeball is not only…a great way to raise money for Harvest of Love, but you also get to hang out with your friends. Everyone needs to come out and play because it’s a really fun night and you don’t want to miss out,” said senior and StuCo member Megan Lockhart. 

In addition, from 6:30-8:30p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7th in the big gym, there will be a movie night for all Kadet students, families, and faculty. AAHS invites everyone to come and enjoy the showing of the Disney movie Moana at the cost of  $2 or five cans at the door. Bring chairs and blankets to sit and enjoy the film, eating 25 cent popcorn or cotton candy. All proceeds will be donated towards the food drive. 

Finally, on Friday, Nov, 8, Student Council is throwing an Aloha-Fall Harvest of Love Dance from 9-11:30 p.m in the cafeteria. After the football game, come and dance at the luau to help end hunger in southern Colorado!

“I am excited for the dance because I get to break out my summer beach clothing in fall, and I get to wear my floaties. Everyone should come because the more tickets bought the more food we can buy,” said junior  Meghan Brazeau.

This week, dig into your pantries for extra non-perishable food or gather loose change; anything and everything will help make this week a success. Give back to the community by caring and sharing. Support AAHS in partnering with Care and Share this Harvest of Love week to put a stop to hungry bellies in southern Colorado counties.