This weekend, Daniel Hand High School students led a food drive for the Madison Community Services' Food Bank, collecting 1,354 pounds of food coupled with several hundred dollars in monetary donations.

"This is an outstanding effort, almost record-breaking," said Pam McKinnon, chair of the town's Citizen Participation Week.

In a report to the Board of Selectmen on Sept. 9, McKinnon said the work done by the students and the generosity of the community made the weekend's food drive a remarkable success. For several years, Madison has chosen to mark the anniversary of Sept. 11 with a Citizen Participation Week, during which individuals and community groups are encouraged to undertake a project that gives back to their town and neighbors.

"We believe this is a way to honor and thank those serving in our armed services and to honor and remember the four members of the Madison community who died on 9/11," McKinnon said.

She reminded residents that the week extends to Sunday, Sept. 15. The town also held a memorial service Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Memorial Town Hall, where markers remembering the Madison residents have been placed.

"The weekend food drive made a huge difference," McKinnon said.

After collecting food donations in front of Stop & Shop in downtown and Roberts Food Center on Route 80, McKinnon and the students delivered it all to the food bank.

"We walked into the food bank to discover the shelves were absolutely bare. We are a generous community, and we are also a community with a large number of families who need help," she said.

Thirteen hundred pounds of food helped fill the shelves.

"This is a time to think about our neighbors, to think about giving back to our community, to think about honoring those who serve," McKinnon said.

Donating to the food pantry is one suggestion.

Madison Community Services maintains the food pantry year-round with an all-volunteer staff. The pantry is located in Orchard Park, an industrial park off Wildwood Avenue. It is open to Madison residents every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For further information on the food bank or Madison Community Services, call 203-245-3031.