The annual Great Ignatian Challenge (GIC) food drive is underway following an all-school assembly today. The goal is to collect more than 30,000 pounds of food, or about 50 pounds per student. The overall goal is to feed St. Patrick’s Center for six months. The student body is bolstered this year by 138 middle school students, helping to reach the goal.
“We strive to be the best at academics and on the field,” senior GIC student leader Jack Ilges said. “And then in service, we are the best. That’s our tradition, our motto. We are men for and with others.”
Students are encouraged to bring food that they would want to eat, including protein and carb-rich meals. Some good things to bring are canned meats, pasta, chili, and canned chicken.
“Corn and green beans are cheap, and they’re heavy,” teacher and leader of GIC Kennedy Phillips said. “But I’m really going to challenge you guys to try to buy some foods and supply food that people will use, that people will want, and that will fill people up.”
Things to avoid include oversized bags of rice and glass containers, as the donations will be constantly shifting around.
There are several incentives outside of purely serving your community. The weekly homeroom with the highest donation amount gets a donut party. If the goal of 30,000 pounds is reached, the school will have Super Bowl Monday off. Students can dress up for Halloween if they bring in five cans for the first collection day, which is Oct. 31. Collection dates are Thursday, Nov. 6, Tuesday, Nov. 11, and Friday, Nov. 14.
Students are encouraged to go into local supermarkets like Schnucks and Dierbergs and ask the manager for discounts or to match their donation to help the cause and get others involved.
“We’re helping out a great cause,” Phillips said. “And if you talk to people at places like Schnucks or Dierbergs, they will be more than willing to help you out in some way.”
Students with questions or requests can ask homeroom teachers, companeros, Mr. Phillips, or anyone involved with the collection.
The school will play Edwardsville in football on Oct. 24. A bus will be located in front of the school, where students are highly encouraged to bring canned goods to “Stuff the Bus.”
“I can promise you it will go much further than you could possibly imagine,” Director of Donor Engagement for St. Patrick’s Center Mike Dineen said. “It does so much more than what you may think it would do for individuals. And if you haven’t directly participated in this, it will be one of the most marvelous experiences.”
