With so much attention focused on the Super Bowl, Norwood teacher Deidre Pesola and others at the school saw an opportunity to help others, raise awareness about food insecurity while having some fun. Students were challenged to collect canned food – one can for every vote of their team of choice to win the Super Bowl – that was given to local pantries with the reward of participating in a rally and football related field events on Friday afternoon. Norwood students collected 410 cans in votes for the Patriots and 45 for the Falcons. Other schools joined in the drive with 437 cans collected at Cedar Hill and 428 at Wickes. Also participating and coming up with a total collection of 3,803 cans were Wyman, John Brown Francis, Holliman, Holden, Greenwood, Robertson, Oakland Beach, Lippitt, Park, Scott and Warwick Neck Schools. As for the games, Pesola come up with some innovative challenges from tossing Nerf footballs into numbered baskets to kicking field goals and relay teams carrying balls between their knees. In opening the rally, which included a cheer for the Patriots, Pesola reminded students, every effort to help is important. “Even though we’re little, we make a difference every day,” she said. (Text and photos by John Howell)