Photo of the Day: Merciful Macaroni

Teens from St. Francis High School stopped by Elk Grove Food Bank Services Monday to drop off 47,000 boxes of Annie's macaroni and cheese for needy customers.

Students solicited the boxed meals, along with 11,000 cans of Campbell's soup and 26,000 bottles of baby food, as part of the school's homecoming competition, in which each class battles for points by doing good deeds.

"Being an all-girls school, we don't have a football team, so we have to find a way to get creative and foster that competitive spirit and at the same time help our community," said student body secretary Grace Savinovich, 17.

Food bank executive director Marie Jachino said the donation from Annie's—whose CEO is a parent at the school—was the largest from a single company in the organization's history.

The food bank is gearing up for a busy holiday season after a year in which demand for its services climbed by 40 percent.

Volunteers said they typically collect about three-quarters of their supplies during the canned food drives local schools hold in late fall, then distribute them throughout the year. This year, however, food flew off the shelves.

"Normally, these shelves are full, but they're empty now," Jachino told the students as they stood in the food bank's warehouse on Dino Drive. "Your contribution is going to make a big difference."

As Jachino spoke, a line was quickly forming in front of a table where families could sign up to receive free Thanksgiving turkeys.

The food bank is urging residents to make a donation of non-perishable food—especially holiday-related side dishes like cranberries or stuffing—between now and Nov. 21. It's also looking for turkeys and chickens, fresh or frozen.

Donors can bring items to 9820 Dino Drive, Suite 140, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.