COOPERSVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — Students at Coopersville High School put on their journalist hats and went to the pantry that will benefit from this week’s Football Frenzy Food Drive to find out what kind of difference their donations will make.

Coopersville Cares was founded by local church leaders to better the community. The founders worked to combine resources, rather than each group working independently, so they could reach more people.

Anyone who lives within the Coopersville Area Public Schools boundary can check to see if their income qualifies their family for a free box of food from Coopersville Cares and can request one each week.

“We do food distribution two days a week, so Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and noon, and then Tuesday evenings between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.,” pantry director Mandi Garvey explained.

The need exists within the walls of the schools, too, Coopersville Cares offers “pack it up” meals for students. Volunteers provide a take-home meal at the end of the week for kids who are food insecure.

“This is for kids who might not have a regular dinner planned for them when they get home, so that way they’re not going to go hungry,” Garvey said. “And those meals get dropped off and then put into backpacks, so if they’re not getting whatever they’re needing, they just need to go talk to the school counselor or social worker, and they’ll come right here and make a box for them.”

Coopersville High School students gathered 1,402 pounds of food this week to donate to Coopersville Cares as part of the WOOD TV8 Football Frenzy Food Drive.