By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - How much food and clothing can be put into an 83-passenger school bus?
Kindergarten through sixth grade students at Brandywine's Merritt and Brandywine Elementary schools are trying to answer that question.
Since Monday, Dec. 5, the students at the two schools have been collecting non-perishable food and gently-used clothing items, which will be donated to the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank in Sodus, part of the Safe Harbor Church.
The big finale to the two-week collection drive will take place this Sunday at the Niles Wal-Mart Super Center from noon to 4 p.m., when a Brandywine Community Schools bus will be parked in the parking lot for community members to drop off donations.
The students are off to a great start as Wal-Mart has already donated $100 worth of gift cards for the students to use to purchase food for the event.
Fellow third grader Brooke Smith said it makes her feel good to know the food and clothing the students are collecting are going to help those in need.
Brandywine bus drivers will volunteer their time to drive the donations to the food bank at the end of the collection.