Lake Lure Classical Academy collects 3,500 cans for HNGO

Students are packing cans for the food drive. Photo contributed.

This year's Annual Canned Food Drive for Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach (HNGO) was a great success.

Lake Lure Classical Academy's National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society students spearheaded the canned food drive for the school. A total of 3,536 items were collected and delivered to HNGO.

In addition to the cans of food, over $300 was raised to purchase Thanksgiving whole-meal food boxes for the families served by Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach.

Karen King, the outreach director and Sue Hamann, a volunteer, were on hand to accept the donations from the school. Both were surprised and excited at the size of the donation.

"It has been a long time since we've had a donation this large" responded Kimberly Hutchins, LLCA NHS & NJHS school sponsor.