"Muscles - wow!" Sara Waeckerle yelled in encouragement as she shuffled around Stevens High School janitorial staff and fellow students as they loaded heavy boxes onto carts.

The boxes, full of 1,200 items of food, including ramen noodles, cake mix, vegetables and other canned goods, were collected by Stevens students and staff in the last couple of weeks to donate to Church Response in Rapid City.

Peer Leaders in the school organized the event as part of the larger celebration of Red Ribbon Week, a campaign against using drugs and alcohol.

"We thought that might help you," said Stevens counselor Sandi McLain, as she ushered Church Response workers through the doorway that led to the stockpile of food.

"We're always in need of food," said Lynda Mentele, director of Church Response. "Our donations are way down and our requests are way up. … What we have to give out depends on our donations."

The sluggish economy and holidays have people more strapped for cash and more people not getting their basic needs, she said.

"We've seen a big increase in both the elderly and the working poor, and people that are on a fixed income and not making it," she said. "A lot of people on minimum wage can't make it."

Mentele said the community would probably be surprised by how many people in Rapid City live in motels and don't have access to kitchens. The organization is happy to take any item of food, she said, but it already has a large stock of canned vegetables, and never has enough pasta, beans, soups and rice.

Mentele stood with the Stevens students Thursday afternoon as they waited for carts, and said it's refreshing to see young people getting involved in volunteer work and helping with donations.

"There is so much attention to the fact that people are hungry and pantries are low; they've kicked in help," she said. "It's nice to see."

McLain agreed. Recent media coverage on the need for more donations at local food pantries and organizations helped prod the students along.

"They let everyone know it's a dire need and that made it more credible," she said.

The food drive was tied to Red Ribbon Week because of the connection between drugs and alcohol and the lack of food, McLain said. The food campaign was called "I CAN Be Drug Free."

"Many people struggling financially are also at risk of using drugs and alcohol," she said. "If basic needs are met, they are less likely to use."

McLain said she is especially proud of Stevens' staff and the teachers who encouraged students to bring in more food. Some staff members offered extra credit, she said. Students in Julie Jackson's classes donated the most food - 350 items.

"Without staff, it wouldn't have been as successful," McLain said.

But students didn't really need much urging, said Peer Leader and 11th-grader Carly Borr. Even without credit, students were hauling cans and packages into school to donate.

"It's a good way to contribute to our community," she said. "It's easy."

Church Response is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com.