The Wareham High School Code Club, a community service organization, delivered approximately 2,800 pounds of food to Damien’s Pantry in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Though the Code Club made the delivery on Monday, everyone at Wareham High School participated. A contest among the school's "advisory groups," a sort of homeroom, had students competing with their peers for most food donated.

“We had two [advisory groups] that were really involved,” said Principal Scott Palladino. “They were responsible for about a quarter of the items raised.”

They partnered with the 99 Restaurant to collect as much food as possible. After picking up the food collected by the 99, they headed over to Damien's Pantry to unload the goods.

Code Club member Nicole Torraco said getting involved in the project seemed like the natural thing to do this time of year.

“I like helping people," she said. "There’s not really a reason.”

Palladino said that while students and administrators don’t know for sure the scale of hunger and homelessness in the schools or the community, the school is sort of a microcosm of the community, and the need is definitely present.

“We’ve seen an increase in [families who receive] free and reduced lunch,” Palladino explained.

Code Club Member Aliza Schofield noted: “I don’t really see [the need], but I know it’s there."

Heading up the Code Club as adviser for the first time this year is Pam Franklin, who said students really stepped up to donate. “We have people going through their cabinets, saying ‘what can I give that’s not going to break me?'" she noted.

Rosemary Lackie of Damien’s pantry said that in addition to food, the pantry is in need of things like toilet paper, toothpaste, and especially diapers.

“We need paper goods because you can’t buy them with food stamps,” said Lackie.

Lackie says that the pantry, which is open three days a week, serves anywhere from 40 to 100 people a day. Workers refer people who have needs they can’t meet to places such as Wareham's Turning Point resource center.

Turning Point and Damien’s provide help for people who are struggling to make ends meet, are on the verge of homelessness, or are sleeping outdoors already.

“Some people who say they’re homeless are living with a friend here and there,” said Lackie.

As for those living outside, it’s hard to nail down a number as according to Lackie, “They’re scattered around.”