Mountain Valley High School students show some of the 838 items collected for the Old School Food Pantry in Rumford. From left are seniors Connor Skillings and class President Lauren Pepin, and junior Tyler Skillings. Submitted photo

RUMFORD — Students and staff at Mountain Valley High School collected 838 items for the Old School Food Pantry the past two weeks.

The Cereal Box Challenge was a joint effort by Jobs for Maine’s Graduates and Mountain Valley High School, Larry Thornton, job specialist with Jobs for Maine’s Graduates at the school, said. Students brought boxes of cereal, oatmeal, granola bars and similar items.

“This donation will benefit over 3,000 individuals in our community in need,” Thornton said.

“Thanks to all of the JMG students for gaining a better understanding of food insecurity in our community and doing something about it,” he said.

He offered a special thank you to Oxford Federal Credit Union for contributions, especially a check for $500 to the pantry, which is in the former Holy Savior School at 115 Maine Ave.

Jobs for Maine’s Graduates is the only nonprofit in Maine offering a continuum of support to help students transition from middle school through high school graduation and on to post-secondary education through degree attainment and connections to successful career pathways. It collaborates with its strategic partners and partnering schools, tailoring its role to support individual curriculum, cultures, and offerings.