M-A boxes it for families in need M-A boxes it for families in need (December 15, 2004)

** A program Coach Ben Parks started in the 1970s is still thriving.

Menlo-Atherton High School students have collected more than 12,000 cans and boxes of non-perishable foods that will be distributed in a holiday outreach program starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, December 18.

The program of distributing food to needy families, many of whom have students at Menlo-Atherton, was started almost 30 years ago by Menlo-Atherton's legendary football and wrestling coach Ben Parks, who retired in 1999 after 31 years of service.

Mr. Parks is still closely connected with Menlo-Atherton and is frequently on campus as a substitute, said Marc Rogers, a member of the class of 1976.

Mr. Rogers and M-A baseball coach Joe Fontana are organizing food distribution to as many as 350 families. Each family will receive two boxes filled with a frozen turkey; staples such as beans, rice and potatoes; plus apples, oranges and holiday treats.

About half the food will be delivered to families who do not have transportation.

As always, Coach Parks will be on hand to help out.

"He will also drive a truck of food down to migrant labor camps near Hollister, where he grew up," said Mr. Rogers, who has been helping out with the program since his high school days.

About 40 volunteers are expected to show up at the school on Friday afternoon to prepare the boxes. Empty boxes are desperately needed, said Mr. Rogers. "We use thousands of them."
INFORMATION

To donate boxes, take them to the school's front office and ask for Joe Fontana, the faculty adviser for the school's Student Leadership Program, which sponsors the food drive. Menlo-Atherton High School is located at 555 Middlefield Road, corner of Ringwood Avenue, in Atherton. For more information, call Marc Rogers at 906-9476.

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