27-04-2025
APS students ‘Spring Into Action' through district-wide food drive
(KRQE) – APS students sprang into action on Saturday morning to help the nearly 4,000 students in need of food within the district through a food drive. APS students are showing up for their fellow classmates to answer a call to action for those who fall under the McKinney-Vento Act.
From sunrise to sunset, students are collecting ready-to-eat, non-perishable items for unhoused students. The McKinney-Vento Program offers services to homeless children and their families, including: referrals for housing, school supplies, and nutritious meals.
'It feels cool that we're all united and trying to just be here for the same cause,' shared senior Highland High School student Kaylin Gonzalez.
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'They called and said, 'Our shelves are low, can we restock them?'' said Leslie Coe, APS Activities Manager. 'So, we reached out to our 13 high schools who help with the drive every year, and they said, absolutely, we're busy with proms and graduations, but we're gonna make it work because these kids need to eat, and our students recognize helping their peers is the biggest importance.'
With as many as 4,000 APS students across grades K through 12 in need of support, APS called out to the community for a helping hand. 'Every school in APS has at least one McKinney-Vento student who needs our help. So, it is a school-wide effort, a district-wide effort, and now an Albuquerque-wide effort because the community can come out and donate to us on Saturday,' said Coe.
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'I don't think there's any shame in having to ask for help because we're all human. We're never perfect. It's okay to always ask for a hand,' said Highland High School senior Kaylin Gonzalez.
Normally, the APS activity board hosts a fall food drive, but because of the increased need this spring, the district decided to host an additional drive to bolster support. 'It's like a very small way to give back. It doesn't take much out of you, and I think it's just really important to help out our community in any way that we can,' said a senior Highland High School student.
APS was able to collect over two van loads of food for McKinney-Vento students. For those unable to attend, the program is always looking for donations.
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