Project 300 food drive still thriving 50 years on
in News
Annual McCarthy Middle School service project nearing 1,000,000 items donated
CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (Jan. 17, 2025) – Project 300, which is now entering its fifth decade, is underway at McCarthy Middle School, with food donations being collected through Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Each year, students, staff and the greater community come together to donate non-perishable food items to local food banks. Most of the food goes to the Salvation Army in Lowell, but many items go to the Chelmsford Food Pantry, as well.
Project 300 began in 1975 with a goal of collecting 300 non-perishable food items to donate to help feed veterans and those less fortunate.
Tom Gallagher, a math teacher at McCarthy, said, over the years, students have taken the food drive to a new level.
“Every year, the students collect anywhere from 26,000 to 32,000 non-perishable food items that are given to the Salvation Army in Lowell and the local food pantry to feed families in the Merrimack Valley,” he said. “It is amazing to see what these kids do during this week from the collection to the delivering of the food.”
And it is possible Project 300 could hit an incredible milestone this year.
“The students and community need to collect 26,843 items to reach 1,000,000 items donated over a 50-year period,” Gallagher said.
McCarthy Middle School students help load Project 300 donations into the Salvation Army truck on Thursday, Jan. 16.
While Project 300 normally happens around Veterans Day, Gallagher said due to the absence of former social studies teacher Eric Sullivan, organizing this year’s food drive took a little more time.
“He was a big catalyst and did a lot of work to make Project 300 happen,” Gallagher said, explaining that he wanted to make sure everything was in order for a successful food drive. “So, we decided on another date, and we’ll see how it goes. … When it’s over, we’ll make an assessment to see whether we go back to Veterans Day or keep it where it is.”
Gallagher said he has been in touch with some of the people who helped get Project 300 off the ground nearly 50 years ago.
“I talked to the forefathers of this thing and when I told them we were changing the date, they were just ecstatic that we were continuing,” he said. “A couple of them were overwhelmed with joy.”
Lynn Havener, a paraprofessional at McCarthy, said she loves the history of Project 300 and seeing the excitement it brings to the students.
“My three boys came through this school, and they had paper routes at the time,” she recalled. “And they put out the flyers when they delivered their newspapers and were able to collect. I’ve seen it as a parent watching their child collect, so it’s cool to be on this end watching it all come in.”
Eighth grader Grayson Redding Cooper said he has enjoyed participating in Project 300, both during his time at McCarthy, as well as during years prior.
“I have been either helping my older brothers with it or actually been in the program for a pretty long time,” he said. “It’s just been something that’s special for me because I like giving to people and I usually try to get as many cans as possible to donate.”
Redding Cooper said he is incredibly proud of his classmates and all those who continue to keep Project 300 going year after year.
“It’s crazy how far we’ve come from the original 300 can goal from 50 years ago,” he said.
McCarthy Middle School students and staff help collect and sort donations for the Project 300 food drive on Thursday, Jan. 16.
About Chelmsford Public Schools
The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential. This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students. For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.
