Dunedin North Intermediate pupils collected 305 cans of food through a mufti day at the school to help stock the Presbyterian Support Otago Family Works foodbank.
"The idea was to give to others who don't have as much," one of the organisers, Charlotte Dickie (12), said.
"Everyone likes mufti day.
"Usually it costs $2, but we decided to have one for a can of food.
"Lots of people brought along more than one can, so we did even better than we thought we would."
Principal Ross Leach said the initiative was conceived and organised by the pupils.
"It's amazing what happens when you tell kids they don't have to wear their uniform," he quipped.
Presbyterian Support Otago Family Works will have its annual "Octacan" appeal from 7.30am to 3pm tomorrow in the Octagon.
Up to 10,000 donated canned food items will be sculptured into a koru pattern in the lower Octagon during the day.
