It was a powerful showing for the student-led Penticton charitable cause known as "10,000 Tonight."
And ultimately, the 2024 edition of the celebrated pre-Christmas tradition in which local students endeavour to collect at least 10,000 non-perishable food items (and good old cash as well) from citizens and businesses across the city, managed to do the seemingly impossible.
In a year where food insecurity is as real as ever and where folks don't have much to spare, 10,000 Tonight blew past its goal and didn't stop 'til it nearly doubled that total.
The final count of 17,602 items was one of its best ever.
The mood was decidedly buoyant Thursday afternoon at Princess Margaret Secondary as students prepped for the initiative's final push – a multi-hour collection run that would take dozens of them through virtually every neighbourhood in the southern half of the city.
Grade 12 student Kaiya Forbes, who with best buddy and fellow "Leadership" program member Ushman Gill directed the Maggie share of the 2024 event, called it a "massive" undertaking.
"Putting the word out, making the boxes, collecting the food, sorting – it’s such a massive event," said Forbes during a brief break.
"So if you're in Leadership, it's mandatory."
Forbes, who's been involved in several 10,000 Tonights and hopes to be a neurosurgeon later in life, praised the enthusiasm for this year's iteration.
"People have had a great response to it," she said. "And it really is a fun event to be part of. You feel great about what you’re doing and you get pizza donated and lots of fun stuff going on while you’re here."
But there were more than students and teachers and parents on hand Thursday afternoon at Princess Margaret.
There were a couple of sheriffs too. Soon, they'd jump in their cruisers and help lead the caravan through the streets.
"A food drive at this time of year and the way food prices currently are, it's a tough time and an important project, so to be a part of it is a wonderful thing," said Deputy Russ Silvius, who works out of Oliver with BC Sheriff Service.
"And it seems a lot of people don't even know who or what sheriffs do in the community. So when this opportunity came up, it felt like it was an important thing to get out there."
There was an MLA-elect on site as well. Former Princess Margaret student Amelia Boultbee, fresh off her October Penticton-Summerland victory, showed up and hung out for a bit, chatting to anyone who wanted to talk.
"I graduated in 06-07," she told PentictonNow, "I was part of the Leadership team and I did 10,000 Tonight when I was a student here. Food insecurity was a problem back then too.
"It was a really fun event. Everyone was in good spirits, just like today. Then you drive around and pick up food from all over then come back and form a giant pile of everything, sort it and ship it off to the food bank.
"It’s such a great thing."
Helping keep the mood elevated were members of the Maggie band program, jamming through a series of funky numbers. Then the cast of Alladin Jr. (opening Nov. 28 at the school) showed up and gave us a fun pose.
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And then it was off to our second and final stop of the day, Penticton Secondary.
By the time we arrived, students were already returning from their routes.
While Maggie kids were covering Penticton's south, Pen High, as usual, handled everything north of Industrial Avenue.
It was here we learned just how far 10,000 Tonight goes beyond the two high schools and that one-night city-wide collection.
"Before we go out on the night of, we start collecting a week, two weeks before," said Leadership student Kayla Ward. "So we were already over 6,000 items to start tonight, which is crazy good. I've never seen that before."
Ward also filled us in on "classroom competitions."
"In the classroom competition," she said, "every classroom raised as many food items as they could, just to see how many people we can help. And we raised over 2,000 food items. We’ve never been this successful with our classroom competition."
Fellow Leadership member Uno Orlik then explained the classroom competition isn't confined to Pen High.
"We also encouraged a classroom competition at KVR Middle School," he said, "and they raised more than 1,000 food items. My entire car was filled. There was food falling out of my trunk as I drove over here.
"It just warms our hearts to see this many people bringing in this much food."
Indeed, continued Orlik, his English instructor said he'd delay a test if the class could accumulate more than 200 items.
They did.
Rachel Bird led Pen High's elementary school effort.
"The little kids love to participate," she said. "When we walked into Carmi Elementary, the secretary told us the kids really wanted to know how much was raised. They've been so enthusiastic.
"It’s just so nice to see how the younger students can contribute so when they get to Pen High and Maggie, they already have that leadership and fundraising experience."
Teacher Marnie Mennell revealed that the elementary and middle school outreach goes far beyond that.
"Rachel was our elementary liaison," she said. "And we had another student, Maggie Chisholm, who was the KVR Middle School liaison.
"Princess Margaret did the same thing. They reached out to elementary schools (in their zone) and Skaha Lake Middle School. It's a big effort."
It certainly is. And those who somehow missed it are encouraged to donate to the cause online here.
