Marketing teacher Kevin Rafferty and his class have launched “SunDevils vs Hunger – A 1993 SunDevil Drive.” This is a month-long canned food drive to collect 1,993 non-perishable food items for local families in the Salem community. The class and Rafferty are partnering with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, as well as Salem’s FCCLA club.
The food drive runs from November 17 through December 17, 2025.
“My students are applying classroom concepts to create meaningful change,” said Rafferty. “As I told them, marketing isn’t just about selling products – it’s about selling ideas and inspiring action.”
For individual donations, every two items donated lead to one entry into a drawing. The drawing is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pie Mr. Braxton.” Three winners will be drawn to pie him.
The pieing occurs during lunch on Friday, December 19th.
During the one-week period of the classroom challenge, the classroom that donates the most wins Krispy Kreme donuts and breakfast treats supplied by the marketing team.
Items that you can donate include canned goods, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, cereal, granola bars, peanut butter, and other non-perishable food items.
“I may live to regret this, but when our marketing students came to me with this creative idea to fight hunger in our community, I couldn’t say no,” said Assistant Principal Derek Braxton. “If getting pied in the face means helping families put food on their tables during the holidays, then bring it on! I challenge every SunDevil to step up and show what our school is made of. Let’s hit that 1,993 goal – just maybe bring a towel for me!”
Join Salem High School in making a difference this holiday season. Every can counts, every box matters, and together, we can ensure no family goes hungry.
“They [the students] are learning to create campaigns that make a real difference,” said Rafferty.
For more information about the SunDevils vs Hunger food drive, contact Theodore Laffon, Senior and President of Sunny Day Marketing, at [email protected].
