Reachable Moment: 4,000 Canned Goods Goal at Parkway Middle School

Dozens of students at Parkway Middle School are doing good via canned goods—even amid tough times and fewer hands to help.

They call it Builders Club.

“We have collected approximately 3,700 cans,” said Bruce Chase, the club’s faculty adviser. “We are trying to reach 4,000 cans by the end of December.”

Chase says they’ve gathered close to 6,000 cans in the past, but have less help now that the school no longer has sixth-graders.

“The school lost one-third of our students, hence a lot of our collection,” he said. “We are usually the No. 1 Food Bank collector within all middle schools in San Diego County and have won the ‘Golden Fork’ award from the San Diego Food Bank for our first-place efforts.”

The club’s members have made field trips to the Food Bank to learn more about the donation process. There they’ve sorted and bagged rice and beans, among other activities.

The concept of Builders Club—associated with Kiwanis International—began 35 years ago and has grown to include more 1,200 clubs internationally. Parkway Middle’s local chapter has about 60 members.  

Eighth-grader Samantha Kaczmarczyk, a member for two years, serves as one of its officers.

“I love Builders Club, and I like knowing that I’m helping our community and the people in need in San Diego,” she said.

Donations can be dropped off in the parking lot between 8:25 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. through Wednesday, Dec. 21.