Libertyville High students make human chain for food pantry

On a damp, drizzly morning, about 30 Libertyville High School Student Council members, along with student and staff volunteers, formed a human chain Wednesday to load boxes of canned goods and food items onto trucks headed to a local food pantry.

In all, more than 6,700 food items were collected during the school's annual drive for the Libertyville Township Food Pantry.

The effort was part of the fall philanthropy project that collected food and money to help the food pantry kick off the holiday collection season, said student council adviser Andrea Lara.

"This food pickup really allows us to increase our stockpile for the upcoming holiday season," said Damon Cederberg of the Libertyville Township. "We really rely on this food drive to really supplement the donations being made throughout the year. It usually fills the pantry pretty good."

Students laughed and joked with one another as they passed boxes of cans down the chain to fill up two township trucks.

"Honestly, it is the best feeling in the world being able to help an awesome organization like the Libertyville Township Food Pantry," said Student Council President Cameron Chen as he worked with other students loading trucks. "We are so honored to be part of something so good."