Danvers Students Collect Donations For Chelsea Food Pantry

DANVERS, MA — The mission of Danvers Students Against Destructive Decisions has taken on a bit of a different form during the coronavirus health crisis in a year where developing personal responsibility could have more effect on others than ever before, and resolve is tested amid social distancing and isolation.

This year's members have embraced those challenges for themselves while recently also helping out others on the North Shore struggling in a different way during the pandemic.

The club organized a food drive for the Chelsea La Colaborativa Food Pantry. The pantry feeds around 8,000 families weekly and the club looked to help after one of its major federal grants expired.

Julie O'Neill, the Danvers High club adviser, said she made two trips to the pantry with collections that filled up her car both times. She estimated that between monetary donations and supplies there were about $1,000 worth of food and other items donated.

O'Neill said that while the Danvers SADD can't run any big events amid the coronavirus crisis, the group has remained committed to "encouraging young people to make positive and healthy decisions in their everyday lives."

She said this year the members have strode to face their challenges and the challenges of their classmates head-on through kindness, courageousness, communication and positivity.

The Danvers SADD organized the food drive, "A Day of Kindness" and the #WhyYouMatter project that O'Neill said encourages "leadership, acceptance and respect."

She said the group has teamed with other Danvers High organizations like Students United for Acceptance and Danvers Cares to bring their message to the school community and the town.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)