COEUR d'ALENE - Every November, students at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy participate in a food drive and donate the collected food to charitable organizations throughout the county.

But this year was special.

Over the course of the month, students collected more than 3,600 pounds of food for St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho.

For the student leaders at the school who organized the food drive, seeing the outcome and the tremendous amount of food donated was reinforcement that their constant motivation worked.

"It just feels really good to encourage other people to give to those who need it and to help out," said Jag Ashtiani, a 16-year-old senior who serves as student body president. "I know a lot of people will give but sometimes they can be really reluctant."

"We were also leading by example because we brought in food too," added Emma McCormick, an 18-year-old senior who serves as student body vice-president. "We weren't just saying 'Hey you need to do this,' we were saying 'Donate with us.'"

The student leaders at the academy made sure to encourage their peers to donate new food they themselves would actually eat rather than whatever was in the back of their pantries.

"Just because people have less doesn't mean they're worth less," Ashtiani said. "The people that are less fortunate deserve food that tastes good and it just kind of makes me sad that these less fortunate people so often have to eat crud. No one really deserves that."

During one of the trips from the school to St. Vincent de Paul, McCormick was able to tag along and help her advisors unload the vehicles filled with food. Five men who use the organization's services helped them, which left a lasting impact on the teen.

"It really helps if you can see where (the donated food) is actually going," McCormick said. "And they were so grateful."

Bev Chambers, a counselor who advises the Associated Student Body along with Stacy Smith, told The Press the current group of student leaders is one of the most motivated and humble she has ever seen.

"They're just great and giving kids who care about their community and the world around them," Chambers said. "Even though there isn't a community service component to our school, they realize the importance of community service. They're just a caring group of students and that's blossomed out into the rest of the student body."

Barb Smalley, development director at St. Vincent de Paul, said while the organization sees a considerable increase in donations during the holidays, the efforts of the students at Charter were unique.

"This was an unusually large donation for us to receive, especially from a student body," Smalley said. "We are overwhelmed by the amount of food they've given and that they thought of people who are truly struggling during this time of the year."