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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Students at the Central Elementary School in Iron Mountain formed a human chain of generosity Wednesday morning, as they assembled all the food they've raised in their 20th annual Food Chain can drive. Loaded down with bags full of food, the children made their way the three blocks from the school to the St. Vincent de Paul store.

When asked why they were bringing the donations to the food bank, one student replied, "Because people need food!"  And that was, indeed, the reason behind the line of students that stretched all the way down the street.  It is also the school's yearly contribution to the ongoing TV6 Canathon.

"We are always a part of the TV6 Canathon," said Maria Basanese-Hill, second grade teacher.  "Only we start ours a little earlier and we end ours a little earlier."

Upon their arrival at the food bank, the students handed their bags of food off to grateful volunteers.

"The majority of the food we get during the Canathon is what the pantry runs on pretty much all year long."

With more people struggling financially, the need is even greater this year--and that's where the students came in.

"We collected 1,558 food items for St. Vincent de Paul," Basanese-Hill said.  That was the total brought in for the entire school.

To get the kids involved, teachers made the drive into a friendly competition, and, though Basanese's second graders didn't win the contest, they still raised a respectable 228 donations from their class.

The drive winners turned out to be Mrs. Martin's first graders with 297 items, followed closely by Mr. Mendini's fifth graders.  Regardless of who won or lost, however, all the needy families in the Iron Mountain area will gain this winter.

The food bank is still accepting non-perishable donations and will continue to do so even after the ending of the Canathon on December 4.

There's still time to make your own contribution to the TV6 Canathon.  For a donation site in your area, go to the Canathon link on our Web site.