Belmont's Gobble Wobble gathers 3,000 pounds of food

BELMONT — For more than a week before Thanksgiving, Belmont Middle School students and staff got into the giving spirit with the 32nd annual Gobble Wobble.

While the week culminates with an event where students dress as turkeys, showing off their best bird calls and struts, there is something much larger at play. Each year, the school community sets a goal of collecting 2,000 pounds of food. This fall, students went above and beyond, and 10 homerooms gathered 3,093 pounds of food.

The winning class was made up of Dawn Stefan’s fifth graders, tallying 588 pounds. Each class collected at least 127 pounds for the St. Joseph Parish Food Pantry.

The pantry is located just a stone’s throw from the school, and the food was brought over each day. Father Marc Drouin made his annual visit to the assembly on Tuesday, to thank students, telling them their work will help provide more than 2,500 meals.

“That is a lot of people who are going to be fed,” Drouin said.

The school community gathered in the gymnasium at the end of school on Tuesday.

Drouin looked around the room, commenting on the amount of energy celebrating the week of giving. A video played of student and staff interviews about what Thanksgiving means to them, then a clip of the annual “Run, Walk, or Wobble,” with the band Cake’s “The Distance” blasting in the background.

Students were sitting in the bleachers when the “turkeys” were let loose to make a lap around the room to the cheers of their classmates. They paraded, in grade by grade, strutting around the room flapping their “feathers” and bobbing their heads in stride.

The turkeys were met by physical education teacher Chad Davis, who was also dressed in full costume and ready to egg on each student to let out a turkey call. Some were screeches. Some were gobbles. Others were a mix of both. All were met with smiles and raucous laughter from students and staff.

A panel of five teachers served as judges, wearing turkey hats and rating each call. Eighth grader Max O’Connell won, joined by classmates Doug Nedobity and Carson Rich.

Davis gave credit to all participants from the school community.

“Your effort this week has been outstanding,” Davis said.

“Your generosity is phenomenal.”

Last week, Principal Aaron Pope said donated food was piling in by the day. Some students and staff would bring food with them on the way into school, and other parents or community members brought in items each day until about 6 p.m.

District leaders asked for instant oatmeal; canned pasta; canned fruit; canned soup; Spam; instant rice; side dishes; granola, fruit and cereal bars; snack crackers; canned cranberry sauce; and small containers of laundry detergent.

As a friendly competition between each grade and class, Pope said the totals rise as the holiday gets closer. This week, things ramped up to result in more than 1,000 pounds of food collected above the goal.

Pope said he is always impressed this time of year, as students and families step up to donate food to help their neighbors. He told the students as the assembly ended they should go home and think about everything they are thankful for, because there is a lot.

“I am super proud of the staff and students for all the effort they put in raising food donations,” he said. “Being able to provide 2,500 meals is pretty amazing.”

The St. Joseph Parish Food Pantry serves residents of Belmont, Canterbury, Gilmanton, Sanbornton, Tilton and Northfield. Donations of non-perishable food items are still needed and can be donated at the Parish Hall at 96 Main St. after weekend masses, or at the pantry at 6 High St. during regular business hours.

The pantry is open from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday; and from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Friday.

For information, call 603-267-8174, or visit stjosephbelmont.org/food-pantry.