Students build QR code, launch holiday food drive

When entering a business along the Hill Country Mile this week, shoppers will see the handiwork of Geneva School of Boerne students Reid Wilson, Samuel Crews and Logan Reyes, either in a front window or on a counter at check-out.

The three high school juniors are captaining a “Holiday Food Drive” in conjunction with Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries, to raise money to address food insecurity among families in the area.

The trio has been placing the blue and red signs in some business windows and leaving acrylic stands holding the signs with others.

“We started three weeks ago,” said Reid Wilson, organizer of the effort. “We met with Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries about this and created the QR code as part of our computer science classes at Geneva.”

Reyes quickly joined the effort after seeing it in computer science class.

“Reid reached out to all the computer science kids. I saw this and thought it seemed like a really nice opportunity to use the skills I have been learning in school to help other people who may not be as fortunate as us,” Reyes said.

Tackling an ambitious public project like a hunger drive gets easier when you’re familiar with your team.

“I thought it sounded like a good opportunity to help people,” Crews said, “and I’m doing it with people I am friends with, so that made it more appealing.”

The QR code created in class adorns all the flyers. All Boerne residents and visitors have to do is scan the QR code when they see it, fill out the linked form, and submit the donation, which goes directly to Hill Country Daily Bread.

“All you need to do is scan the QR code with your phone, and it’ll take you to the site. It’s easy to access and very secure,” Wilson said.

The students hope to meet a $15,000 goal through the end of the year for the hunger drive. The are well on their way, having drawn $1,800 in donations before starting their trek to Boerne businesses.

The posters and stands will be up throughout the Christmas holiday.

The QR code appears in a Holiday Food Drive advertisement on page 3 in today’s Star, for those ready to donate and help the Geneva trio reach their fundraising goal.