SJM_SouthernExposure_0121_SouthernExposure_11_08 1 / 12 / 21 3 : 37 PM Page 4 SPOTLIGHT decorated seven cars that drove around different neighborhoods to pick up bags of food left at the curb . HaddonFEED For Dietz , it was a special moment to see the whole thing come together A JUNIOR AT HADDONFIELD and be so well - received . MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL , “ You don’t have to plan a whole CHARLIE DIETZ FELT COMPELLED giant food drive but any small way TO TRY AND HELP THE LOCAL that you can help people , especially COMMUNITY MANAGE THROUGH in times like this , is really a big THE ROUGH TIMES CAUSED BY difference , ” he says . THE PANDEMIC . He gathered some Dietz wanted to set a high goal to friends and devised a plan they see if it would give people incentive to thought would have an impact . But donate more . Their goal was to collect he never thought it would grow to be over 5,000 items and they got close , this big . ultimately securing 4,400 donations . After gathering some friends to - “ That was a much bigger turnout gether , the young volunteers devised a than what we expected , ” Dietz says . plan to parade around the area in cars “ We were really grateful for the town to collect items to donate to the Food and everyone who donated food . ” Bank of South Jersey . The crew decid - The success of the project has ed to call the project HaddonFEED . inspired Dietz and his peers to plan “ We figured if we had a name it an even bigger event during their would be easier for people to remem - senior year and hopefully seeing the ber the parade and what we were tradition carry on well into the future , doing , ” Dietz says . “ We were brain - even after the pandemic subsides storming ideas for names and since food insecurity is unfortunately and my HaddonFEED is what me not a new issue . dad came up with . We were sitting at “ We plan on doing it again and the kitchen table and we just put getting more cars , ” he says . “ We all HaddonFEED together and figured have younger siblings coming into that was it and it stuck . ” the high school . We plan to pass it The group used social media , onto them and other kids at the flyers and word of mouth to spread high school so they can continue news about the event and then the legacy . ” SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 17 issue 10 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 13