It's been one of the biggest events in the Quad Cities for nearly three decades and Monday, September 29, 2014 hundreds of high school students from 17 different schools kicked off the 2014 Student Hunger Drive.
"I like to think that if I was in the position that some of these students that I go to school with and these families around the Quad City Area, I would love students to help me out and help feed my family," said Justin Sanchez, Student Ambassador for the Hunger Drive.
"I love the sense of community it brings, there's so many people that get together for one cause," added Student Ambassador Melanie Trepa.
The kick-off party featured a talent show. Each school showing off their talents to encourage the students to collect more than the 521,115 pounds they collected in 2013.
"I think this year will be the biggest year that the Hunger Drive has had," said Sanchez.
The food collected helps 120 different food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in 22 different counties in Iowa and Illinois. Students have until November to collect food.