Aberdeen-Hoquiam Food Ball yields more than 1 million pounds of food

By Kat Bryant For The Daily World • November 10, 2021 1:30 am
Aberdeen High School cheerleaders and marching band perform while the final Food Ball tally is calculated on the evening of Monday, Nov. 8. (Courtesy Coastal Harvest)
Aberdeen High School cheerleaders and marching band perform while the final Food Ball tally is calculated on the evening of Monday, Nov. 8. (Courtesy Coastal Harvest)

Aberdeen and Hoquiam students collected 5,979 pounds of food plus $104,416.79 in monetary donations during the 41st annual Food Ball drive.

With cash counting for 10 pounds of food per dollar raised, the grand total was calculated at 1,050,147 pounds of food.

Those figures blow away last year’s haul — which took place during a statewide COVID-19 lockdown — of 1,487 pounds of food plus $65,491.25.

“The students managed to come through again in tough times,” said Brent Hunter, executive director of Coastal Harvest. “I think it’s great they are willing to seek out donations. It all goes for a great cause: helping people suffering from food insecurity.”

Things were more open this year, though a few traditional events had to be canceled. Health protocols were followed throughout the drive.

“Compared to last year, each school was able to participate much more and actually interact with our community,” said Ashley Kohlmeier, Aberdeen’s Food Ball student advisor.

Katie Barr, Hoquiam’s Food Ball student advisor, echoed those thoughts.

“We know it’s not a traditional year, but people giving in spite of that because they care … is the most important thing,” said Barr. “It was wonderful to see the smiling faces and the kind comments of the community as they watched the kids out in the community working on Food Ball.”

For the second time, Food Ball was a joint effort between the two districts rather than a competition between the high schools.

“All of our Hoquiam schools got involved,” said Barr – even the Hoquiam Elementary students, who raised $2,265 and a fair amount of food donations themselves.

Both advisors said it was a positive experience overall, with a mix of traditional events and new ones that involved both districts.

“Everyone worked hard, and we are hopeful to raise our goals for next year,” said Barr.

Kohlmeier added, “We are really impressed with the results. Both schools just rocked it!”

Kat Bryant is the volunteer and mobile program coordinator for Coastal Harvest.

Large boxes are filled with donated food to be weighed at the Coastal Harvest warehouse on Monday, Nov. 8, the final day of the Aberdeen/Hoquiam Food Ball. (Courtesy Coastal Harvest)

Large boxes are filled with donated food to be weighed at the Coastal Harvest warehouse on Monday, Nov. 8, the final day of the Aberdeen/Hoquiam Food Ball. (Courtesy Coastal Harvest)