By Kiersten Throndsen/KOMO (RVP news partner)

RAINIER VALLEY – As soon as the call went out hundreds of kids answered.

“It really was awe-inspiring to see hundreds of kids putting anywhere from one can to several bags of groceries in our collection bins,” said Sam Osborne, Executive Director for the Rainer Valley Food Bank.

During the course of the school year, students at Orca K-8 School collected and donated more than 5,000 cans of food, raised $1,000 and harvested 200 pounds of fresh fruits and veggies grown from their school’s garden.

“They have given 2-3 times more food than any other school we have partnered with,” said Osborne.

Through the ‘Kid A Can A Month’ program, the students were encouraged to bring at least one can every month to give to the food bank. And Osborne says on the heels of the food bank’s busiest month ever, the student’s donations couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We fed 11,570 people in May.”

Thursday morning the kids dropped off their last load  – handing over nearly 1600 pounds. The food bank says the student’s donations will help keep their non-perishable food shelves full for at least a month.

“Summer months tend to be some of our busiest. What’s July going to be like?  What’s August going to be like? It’s hard to predict.”

The food bank hopes the success of Orca will help inspire other schools to follow suit.

“It’s such a feel good thing to see so many kids doing their part and to understand why it’s important.”

Osborne says Orca plans to hold its donation program again next year.