In partnership with the Sudbury Food Bank, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to celebrate the success of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School's second annual Food Drive. This year, the school community, with help from Holy Cross and St. David Elementary Schools raised $28,056.70 and collected 2,100 cans to support individuals and families in need across the Sudbury region. This marks an increase of $6,552.83 from last year's total of $21,503.95, highlighting the school's continued dedication to giving back to the community.
The Food Drive, a cornerstone of St. Benedict's holiday initiatives, reflects the school's strong commitment to social justice. The Christmas season provides an opportunity to support local food banks, particularly during a time when the need is greater than ever. According to Food Banks Canada, March 2024 saw over 2 million visits to food banks nationwide, a record high underscoring the urgency of addressing food insecurity.
The Food Drive campaign ran from November 25 to December 11, featuring several impactful initiatives that brought the community together:
- St. Benedict students prepared and served pasta dinners for families, students, and community members at St. Benedict and Holy Cross.
- St. Benedict students collected donations at Chris' Your Independent Grocer and Messier's Your Independent Grocer.
- St. Benedict's fundraising team organized a class competition to raise funds, fostering teamwork and school spirit.
- Representative St. Benedict Bears also attended both Holy Cross and St. David Elementary schools for a pep rally, that energized their school partners to join forces in collecting monetary donations and non-perishable food items.
"This initiative has given our students a chance to reflect on their blessings, connect with their community, and develop leadership skills through community service," said Principal Beverley Belanger. "We are deeply grateful to all our contributors; this includes our students, staff, families, elementary schools, and, of course, our local partners, including Messier's Your Independent Grocer, Chris' Your Independent Grocer, Caruso Club, and Vito Brand Meats, whose support made this achievement possible."
"I'm truly inspired by the way our school community came together to support those in need this year," said David Akero, St. Benedict student and Sudbury Catholic District School Board Student Trustee. "The Food Drive showed us the importance of food banks and the meaningful accomplishments we can achieve by coming together as a community."
