Sgt. Mike Black and the Demopolis High School JROTC completed its annual food drive just in time for Thanksgiving. The group collected canned goods and other nonperishable food items for two weeks before delivering the supplies to the Demopolis Food Bank last week.

“We’ve got between 7,000 and 8,000 pounds of food,” Black said.

The collection effort is one upon which Black and his group have focused every holiday season for more than a decade.

“We’ve done it every year since I’ve been here and that has been 11 or 12 years,” Black said. “It’s open for anyone to give. We do it for a project every year.”

This year, however, the group had more success than is customary thanks to the involvement of teachers and other students at Demopolis High School.

“It’s a lot better this year than it was last year,” Black said. “Last year we only had about 4,000 pounds. “This year, we had more help from teachers who gave points to kids bringing in cans.”

The project was overseen by Demopolis High School sophomore DeAndria Hicks, who was unable to get away from class to help deliver the food.