KINGSTON — As the amount of food from the Kingston High School Leo Club’s food drive was tallied at ShareNet on the afternoon of Nov. 5, the students donating the food realized there was another bag in the back of a car.

The club members had already bested their 2012 food drive by more than 100 pounds. The bag with 38 pounds of food raised the bar even higher.

The Leo Club donated 347 pounds of food to ShareNet, after holding a trick-or-treat food drive on Halloween. Three groups consisting of 18 students went door to door trick-or-treating for canned and boxed goods to donate. The students covered Poulsbo, Kingston and Indianola neighborhoods.

“We went around knocking on people’s doors; some people asked if we were a little old to be out trick-or-treating,” Leo Club President Miranda Hoffer said.When the students said what they were doing, however, people didn’t hesitate to donate.

The timing by the Leo Club is perfect as the holidays near, ShareNet prepares to pass out its holiday boxes, and the food bank sets off on its annual Neighbor Aid campaign.

The campaign raised $17,304 as of Nov. 13. No particular goal is set, as whatever the total is at the end of the campaign will be beneficial.

“It helps people around here,” Hoffer said. “People are lining up from the time [ShareNet] opens, to when it closes. They need the essentials.”

Hoffer said it’s important to donate; it’s especially important for younger generations to donate, as it instills a mindset of giving, instead of wanting.

ShareNet, a non-profit, serves Eglon, Hansville, Indianola, Indianola, Kingston, Little Boston, Port Gamble, and a portion of Poulsbo and Suquamish.

ShareNet operates a food bank, a clothing bank, and a program to make nutritious food available for school children on weekends.

ShareNet also assists families and individuals facing eviction or needing help keeping their utilities on.

The community contributed $56,785 to ShareNet’s 2012 Neighbor Aid campaign.

ShareNet’s annual budget is about $150,000.

Kingston senior and Leo Club member Kat Afton participated in the club’s food drive last year. When club members approached one woman, the woman described how thankful she is for ShareNet’s services.

She “came back with bags of food,” Afton said. The woman said she “relied on ShareNet when she was younger and is happy there is something that provides [those] services.”