Food collected through Mishawaka School City's annual Christmas food drive will go to help nearly 200 families in our area.

Students at Mishawaka High School boxed up food from its 31st food drive Friday.

Food was collected from from all of the Mishawaka schools.

Biology Teacher John Manuszak has been in charge of the drive since it started more than three decades ago.

Close to 200 families will receive food through the drive, but Manuszak says they're not the only ones who benefit.

"It feels great," he said. "It's one of the rewards of teaching, having your students come back and they sponsor families. When you see your students come back with their families and they're working and doing this, you know you hit the real point with the meaning of Christmas."

Families who were referred to the drive through local charities will be the ones receiving the food. They'll be picking out groceries Saturday from 8 until noon at Mishawaka High School.