Year eight teacher Sonia Vind says Eltham school's student leaders organised the collection after hearing that the cupboards of the Eltham Foodbank were bare.
"The students were very enthusiastic about the collection. They created posters and advertised the campaign in school assembly." Students were encouraged to bring in items of non-perishable food in exchange for a candy cane.
"People brought in donations every day," says India-Rose Brown-Martin (12). The student leaders are challenging other schools to collect for their local foodbank.
Gary Rodgers of Eltham Foodbank, pictured with student leaders, says he was blown away by the donation. "This will make a huge difference for a lot of families in the area."
Eltham Community Foodbank collection will be Monday, December 7 from 6pm in Eltham. Donations can be left beside the mailbox for collectors to pick up.