The Community Service Club has begun its year-long community outreach by collecting extra lunches every Wednesday for the Salvation Army in Plainfield. According to Adviser Mr. Warren Hynes, the Wednesday Extra Lunch Days have been in place since the Community Service Club started in 2006.

According to Hynes, WHS works in collaboration with McKinley Elementary School and EIS to donate lunches to the Salvation Army. According to cfbnj.org, the Community Food Bank of NJ reports that approximately 19 percent of children statewide have “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited ability to acquire acceptable foods.”
 
This year, the club plans to promote its extra lunch program to gather more lunches than the past average of 20 per week, according to Hynes. Extra Lunch Day Coordinator junior Grace Pfeifer said, “I’m hoping with the help of Westfield High School students and staff, this year will be a huge success and that we will be delivering many meals to the Salvation Army.” 
 
Hynes added that in the past, individual classes and programs, such as Project ‘79 and the Bridge Program, have made significant contributions by dedicating a day or an assignment to making lunches. He said that he hopes teachers can find a way to incorporate extra lunches into the classroom—whether through an assignment, extra credit or other incentive.

Said Community Service Club member junior Julia Simpson: “Its hard to truly imagine for most students, but some people out there feel real hunger on a constant basis. I think a lot of drives occur once a year, and while the turnout is usually incredible, people are hungry year-round. Extra Lunch Day helps to address that, even if it’s only a small piece.”
 
To assist the Community Service Club and help end hunger in New Jersey, bring an extra bagged lunch to the marked box in the front hallway any Wednesday by 9 a.m