On Oct. 13 the Senate kicked off its annual canned food drive, Cash for Cans. Cash for Cans is part of the Carmel Fire Department’s Christmas Assistance Program (CAP), which aims to help families in need during the winter holiday seasons. Students can donate money via their SRT rooms on gold days on Oct. 13, 15, and during the following week on Oct. 19 and 21.

Although the money collected during these five days will not be used until December, and the food will not be distributed until Dec. 12. Senate sponsor Michelle Foutz said the reasons for gathering donations now are twofold. “We try to collect money as early as possible because we don’t want Care to Share and the canned food drive to be right on top of each other, and we don’t want people to think that they’re the same thing,” she said.

Foutz also said the money is needed as soon as possible because the organizational process, which goes through the fire department, can become complex with so many people involved. She said the Care to Share program is likely to kick off at the end of October or at the beginning of November.

Senator and senior Griffin Brunk said the difference between Care to Share and Cash for Cans can be subtle to students but is still important. “Care to Share is also under the Christmas Assitance Program, but Care to Share is for all families in central Indiana, while Cash for Cans is specifically for Hamilton County families in need,” he said. “With each drive, we’re helping different people.”

According to Foutz, another difference between Cash for Cans and Care to Share is Cash for Cans is fairly impersonal and is strictly about donating money, while with Care to Share, SRTs are assigned a family and can bring in anything from money to gifts.

At the Carmel Fire Department’s Web site, which can be found at carmel.in.gov, students can find further instructions if they wish to have a more active role in the CAP program, including sponsoring a family and helping to deliver packages in December. Families who are in need can also find information about how to get on this list. However, according to Foutz, the only thing students here need to do is to donate money during SRT.

The SRT which brings in the highest amount of money by the end of Oct. 21’s sixth period will win a pizza party paid for by the Senate.

“I don’t know the exact amount (raised last year),” Foutz said, “but we raised over $10,000 one year; I know last year Mr. Stuelpe’s SRT raised over $800, and (his SRT) was the winner.”

Brunk said on Oct. 13 alone, students all over the school raised a total of $171.65. By Beverly Jenkins <[email protected]>