Dermer Dreams Students Collect More Than 250,000 Pounds of Food for New Jersey Food Banks

HOWELL, N.J. - EntSun -- Hundreds of New Jersey students collected more than 250,000 pounds of food during Dermer Dreams' second annual 100-Yard Food Drive Challenge on Sunday, October 25. Thousands of yellow donation bags covered Howell High School's football field from end zone to end zone, with additional donations lining the sidelines. The extraordinary effort marked the largest food drive in the nonprofit's history.

The student-led initiative united schools, neighborhoods, businesses, families and volunteers across New Jersey. What began with students collecting food in their neighborhoods grew into a powerful demonstration of community generosity.

"What matters most to me is feeding people who need our help. All the food collected is now at food banks and will help families across New Jersey," said Daniel Dermer, Co-Founder and CEO of Dermer Dreams. "These students did more than collect food. They united communities and demonstrated the power of working together."

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At 3 p.m., the Howell High School football team joined volunteers to help clear the field. Donations were distributed to approximately 30 food bank partners statewide, including Lunch Break, Fulfill, Howell Food Bank and Open Door in Freehold. Additional collection sites in Rumson, Montclair and Egg Harbor expanded the initiative's reach.

"By Sunday evening, all of the yellow bags had been removed from the football field, but their impact continues," said Alyse Dermer, Co-Founder of Dermer Dreams. "Every bag represents generosity, compassion and a young person who chose to make a difference in someone's life."

Through Dermer Dreams' Neighborhood Captain Program, students organize food drives, recruit volunteers and develop leadership skills while earning community service hours.

This year's event builds on the inaugural 2025 challenge at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, which led to a CNN appearance by Daniel Dermer.

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Dermer Dreams extends its gratitude to participating schools, sponsors, students, families, volunteers and food bank partners. The organization hopes this remarkable accomplishment inspires communities nationwide to join the fight against hunger.

MEDIA ASSETS & INTERVIEWS: High-resolution photographs and video footage are available upon request. Interviews with Co-Founders Alyse and Daniel Dermer and student leaders can be arranged.

ABOUT DERMER DREAMS: Founded by Alyse and Daniel Dermer, Dermer Dreams is a New Jersey nonprofit empowering young people to fight hunger through student-led community food drives. Its mission: Fighting Hunger, One Bag at a Time. Visit https://dermerdreams.org/ | @DermerDreams