Can-A-Thon aims to surpass last year’s collection | News

In the morning, students from the Heritage School Key Club volunteered to help collect donations alongside volunteers from Newnan Utilities and NJSL members.

Volunteers unloaded cans from arriving cars and sorted them into boxes under a tent. The boxes were then loaded onto a trailer and taken to One Roof.

Albertson said the organization works with schools and local businesses to support the event.

The event will collect tens of thousands of cans and monetary donations, she said.

According to Albertson, the service project collected approximately 48,000 cans last year and received $57,000 in donations.

Every dollar donated allows the food bank to purchase two cans of food.

“My goal is to exceed last year’s number,” she said. “The rumor is that many schools did better than last year.”

Albertson said One Roof has seen a huge need, with an increase in customers who are single parents and an increase in older customers who rely on the food bank.

Heritage School students brought a check for $12,000 from funds raised for Can-A-Thon to donate to the effort.

Trevor Hamaker, the school’s director of admissions, said some of the money was raised through the election of the school’s homecoming king – the student who raises the most money is crowned.

Heritage graduate Amelia Thornton said she volunteered with Can-A-Thon all four years of high school.

“It’s fun to collect cans, meet new people and just help,” she said.

Will Elder, a Heritage senior, also contributed to Can-A-Thon each year of high school.

“We counted starts and sorted them into boxes,” he said. “I just enjoy helping my community.”