Thanksgiving Food Drive Supports Families in Need

Thanksgiving Food Drive Raises more than $1,800 for Families in Need

This Thanksgiving Saint John’s Prep students, faculty and staff are helping the community by donating food and money to the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf. Students in grades six through twelve collected $1,800 in cash donations and 900 food items! The annual food drive was successful because of the generosity of Saint John’s Prep students and their families.

Matt Beck, the director of the Saint John’s Prep Benedictine Center for Leadership, Service, and Community, coordinated this extraordinary campaign. “This food drive is a very important resource to provide holiday meals for families in need. This annual effort is also beneficial for our students and leads to valuable discussions about empathy, gratitude, and community responsibility.”

Each year Prep hosts a lighthearted competition between middle school homerooms and upper school advising groups. Mr. Beck says, “Students had fun competing to collect the most money and food! A group of freshmen, led by English teacher Robert Erickson, raised the most money and a sixth-grade homeroom, led by Middle School teacher Carlee Biechler, collected the most food. Both of these teachers live in St. Joseph. The winning classrooms will get a fun cookie party as a prize.”

The food bank is now distributing the food to families in the St. Joseph area. Prep students brought in non-perishable food items including canned vegetables, boxes of stuffing, dry biscuit mix, cans of broth and cream of mushroom soup, bags of potatoes and other holiday staples. The money will be used to purchase turkeys, pies, buns, and other perishable items. More than 30 families with a hearty and healthy Thanksgiving meal. Mr. Beck says the Food Bank has received a matching grant that will double the Prep monetary gift. The $1,800 donation will grow to $3,200 to support local families.

Clients of the food shelf must live in the St. Joseph area. The address is 18 Birch Street E., Saint Joseph. Donors or Clients can contact the Food Shelf via email at stjosephcommunityfoodshelf@gmail.com.

Saint John’s Prep students are in grades 6-12. They are from 14 different countries and 20 Minnesota communities. You can learn more about our school and our programs at www.sjprep.net.