Howell High School football field covered in groceries for New Jersey food banks
Hundreds of New Jersey students collected more than a quarter million pounds of food in the second annual 100-Yard Food Drive Challenge. Thousands of bright yellow donation bags covered the football field at Howell High School from one end zone to the other. It was the largest food drive in the history of the nonprofit Dermer Dreams.
The drive began with students collecting food in their own neighborhoods. It grew to bring in schools, businesses, families and volunteers across New Jersey. "These students did more than collect food: They united communities and demonstrated the power of working together," said Dan Dermer, co-founder of Dermer Dreams.
The Howell High School football team helped volunteers carry every bag to rented trucks. The trucks took the food to partner food banks, among them Lunch Break, Fulfill, Howell Food Bank and Open Door in Freehold. "Every bag represents a young person who chose to make a difference in someone's life," said Alyse, Dan's wife, who also works with the nonprofit.
Dermer Dreams started in 2019, when Dan, a property manager raised in New York City, moved to New Jersey. The couple saw that high school students were searching everywhere for the community service hours they needed, so they launched the Dermer Dreams Neighborhood Captain Program. Dan has spent more than a decade working with students to eradicate hunger. He is also CEO of Dermer Management, Inc., which manages co-ops, condos and rental properties in Manhattan.
The first challenge took place in 2025 at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. Teens there organized the drive and recruited volunteers, building leadership skills as they went. "Not only will we feed people who are food insecure, but we will inspire young students to take action and make a difference in this world," Dan said.
All the food collected is now at 30 food banks and will help families across the state.
Source: High School Fills Entire Football Field With Groceries to Replenish New Jersey Food Banks (goodnewsnetwork.org).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: [email protected].
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