CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Becci Graham, fourth grade teacher at Hafen Elementary, stands near some of the food her class helped collect for the food drive. Graham's students will be rewarded for the items they contributed with an ice cream party. Advertisement

It's the season of giving and gratitude, and once again Hafen Elementary school has stepped up to the plate and served a cornucopia of food to those less fortunate through its annual food drive.

And they did it in less than a week, collecting 1,615 boxes, cans, and bags of food.

The school held a competition between every class to see who could bring in the most food items, quickly spurring the students to vie for the grand prize, an ice cream party.

Becci Graham's fourth grade class won the competition, contributing 380 items.

Second place was a tie between Georgia Salway's fifth grade class and Jessica Jones' third grade class with 84 items each.

Cynthia Benton's second grade class took third place with 74 items.

The food drive's success was also due in large part to parent volunteers Shannon Cobillas, Debbie Doty, Stacey Loffredo.

The event was coordinated and organized by Nancy Cratty.

The food was donated to 16 local families.