WEST COLUMBIA, SC -- Mackenna Maddox is not a student to rest on her laurels.
So when Busbee Creative Arts Academy’s holiday food drive for the Cayce Cares Project rolled around a couple weeks ago, she set a goal to beat her previous food donation record -- 1,510 food items, collected when she was a student at Cayce Elementary.
Friday, the now-sixth grade Busbee student got some help from classmates in unloading her haul -- a personal best of 1,812 donated canned foods and other items, collected over 10 days. Donations and pledges of money to shop for food came in from as far away as Boston, Pennsylvania and Maryland, Mackenna said.
Mackenna is one of hundreds of Lexington Two students giving back this holiday season to help those in need through donation campaigns at various district schools.
Busbee’s food drive runs through December 1. The campaign has collected an estimated 2,000-plus items so far, said Principal Stephanie Hucks.
Here is a sampling of other holiday drives at district schools. Individuals, churches, businesses and other organizations are invited to help schools in their holiday drives by dropping off donations at any Lexington Two school.
Airport High School: Students are holding a raffle donation benefitting Pets Inc. Animal Shelter.
Cayce Elementary School: Students are collecting for the Cayce Cares canned food drive. Students also recently concluded a coin drive for the USC Dance Marathon for Prisma Health Children’s Hospital.
Pine Ridge Middle School: Student Council is holding a one-day blitz, collecting canned foods on November 19.
Riverbank Elementary School: Students are collecting for the Cayce Cares canned food drive; Christmas Angel Program, to help Riverbank families in need with holiday gifts; and collecting donations of home goods like kitchenware, toys, books and games for the Free Family Home Goods Event at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church. Anyone in the community who would like to donate can drop off items daily from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church on Leaphart Road before November 29.
Saluda River Academy for the Arts: Junior Beta Club is collecting blankets; Student Council is holding a beanie and sock drive; and students are collecting for the Cayce Cares canned food drive.
Springdale Elementary School: Students are collecting for the Cayce Cares canned food drive; and Coins for Coats, in which spare change donations will be given to the Springdale Police Department to purchase new coats, hats, scarves and gloves for children and the elderly. The recent Socktober drive brought in 261 pairs of new socks.
Wood Elementary: Staff and students are collecting items for the school's annual giving tree to make the holidays brighter for families and senior citizens in need. Items will be accepted through December 10.