Campbellton Middle School (CMS) wrapped up their annual Cans for Kindness Food Drive last week. Students collected over 1175 items (approx. $1100) for community members in need. For a number of years, CMS has been collecting non-perishable food items, but recently they have expanded by adding personal hygiene products (such as toothpaste, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes), to their drive. The collected items were donated to the Restigouche County Volunteer Action Association (RCVAA).      After years of hosting fall drives, CMS shifted to a winter collection as the RCVAA expressed that there was a high need for items after the holidays, a time when donations tend to decrease.      Vice-Principal, Mike Graham believes Cans for Kindness teaches many lessons, “We want the students to be able to give back to their community. It’s important for them to be aware that there are families in our community that are struggling and in need of our help.”      Mr. JD Touchie’s 7/8 class were the top collecting students this year, bringing in a total of 294 items (13.4 items/student). The second place class was Mrs. Julie Firlotte’s 5-2 class, who collected 191 items (10.1 items/student) and third was Ms. Christina Savoy’s 8-1 class with 259 items (8.9 items/student).      The top class will have “bragging rights” for the remainder of the school year and a few of the students will have the opportunity to duct tape their Principal, Ms. Angela Young, to the wall of the gymnasium, a challenge she extended to the class that collected the most items per student.Pictured above: Students from Mr. Touchie’s 7/8 class and RCVAA president Mr. Howard Hailey.