Record-breaking food drive fills kitchens

Last Updated on September 21, 2012 September 21, 2012

Written by Jacob Hilmes, Reporter

After a week of announcements, reminders, and bags of canned goods, the Community Service Project (CSP) food drive concludes today. Led by the junior class pastoral team, the drive had yielded more than 14,000 points through Thursday. A donation of one can is worth a point; a donation of a dollar is worth two points.

“We get more organized every year,” said junior pastoral representative Paul Fister. “Last year we were hoping to double what we got the year before, and we didn’t quite achieve that, but we’re hoping to get even more than that this year. And we’re already showing amazing results. We’ve just done a great job promoting it, and we’re making sure everyone is surrounded by reminders that this is a food drive.”

The food drive has been promoted with countless fliers in the hallways and two trailers shown at morning prayer services and lunch. President David Laughlin has also been making announcements, to encourage students, both over the PA and in person, and students have received daily emails with the latest point tallies from CSP co-coordinator Simonie Anzalone.

“So, realizing how much planning, organization, and effort goes into making sure that we’re getting the ingredients that we  need for these meals is pretty interesting. And then, seeing how different pastoral teams have really gotten behind it. Like the senior team deciding to do the food drive belly brigade last Friday, or the junior team working hard on the prayer services,” said campus minister Meg Beugg.

The sophomore class has responded with particular enthusiasm, accounting for more than a third of the school’s goal of 15,000 points, double the 7,905 points collected last year.

“They brought a lot last year as freshmen, but I think the expectation has sometimes been, ‘Oh, that just happens when you’re a freshman,’” said Beugg.

“The sophomores are doing really well this year. Last year they got more than any of the other classes combined,” said Fister, “And this year we were expecting kind of a slump, because I remember our freshman year (my class) did really well, too.”

The goal for 2012 is to nearly double last year’s 7,905 points.

Most items will be used in the various service projects supported by SLUH, including Karen House, Shalom House, and Saints Peter and Paul. Donated money and gift cards will be used to buy food in greater quantities, compared to the restrictions of small or limited packaging that local groceries supply.

Donations are already being used to provide food for the hungry, specifically in the Shalom House program, a shelter for women. Contributions were used this past Wednesday to prepare the meals.

“I actually went, took some off the stage in the Si Commons, because we’re using some of the stuff that was brought in (Wednesday) to cook,” said Beugg. “The brownie mixes that were brought in this morning are being baked this afternoon, and then served over at Shalom House.”

The food drive concludes tomorrow.

“Hopefully, the people in homeroom will be invigorated with just some uncanny zeal, and they’ll really represent the class,” said junior Gabe Miller.