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Dominican girls surpass their food collection record
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By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald
When Second Harvest Food Bank trucks arrived on St. Mary’s Dominican High School campus to pick-up donations from the school’s week-long food drive, the nonprofit was pleased to find approximately 96,000 cans and other donations. It marked the largest collection in the 23 years that Dominican has held an annual food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank.“Our students look forward to the food drive each spring, and they did a tremendous job this year, collecting and sorting all of the donations in only one week,” said Dr. Maureen Wright, vice president of Dominican Catholic Identity.
Starts with prayer
Dominican’s 2022 drive kicked off with a justice awareness Mass coordinated by the school’s campus ministry office. The Campus Ministry Club leads the drive, said campus minister Rebecca Wallace. It is one of the ministry’s largest service projects. Club members work with passion and energy along with a friendly competition among the classes, and the alumnae are also generous.“This year, we had an abundance of grace and support from them to those in need,” Wallace said. “Two of the four pillars of Dominican are community and service. Those are really highlighted here.”
During the one-week drive, a total of 96,934 food items were donated, surpassing last year’s school record and this year’s goal by 388%.
The inspiration for this year’s competition among classes was the board game “Clue,” with all grades and alumni participating. Total collections were 21,201, eighth graders; 6,704 freshmen; 4,158 sophomores; 36,591 juniors; 22,134 seniors; and 6,146 alumnae.
Dominican junior Abi Scanlan solicits family and friends each drive, and when knocking on neighborhood doors in 2022, she was greeted by Jessica Brandt, who donated $10,000.
“The money will go to Second Harvest for whatever they need,” Scanlan said.
Dominican’s drive is one of Second Harvest’s largest.
“The annual Dominican food drive helps to feed thousands of hungry in our community every year,” said Second Harvest president and CEO Natalie Jayroe. “The wonderful $10,000 monetary donation will help feed 40,000 people as well.”