Nov. 6 marks the halfway point of the Great Ignatian Challenge (GIC). The school has collected over 23,000 pounds of food so far, already surpassing half of the 30,000-pound goal set to feed St. Patrick Center for six months.

“We’re off to a really good start,” teacher and GIC moderator Kennedy Phillips said. “It’s been really cool to have everyone across the board invested.”

Earlier this week, members of the GIC team dropped off over 17,000 pounds of food at St. Patrick Center. The team got to see already how much of an impact the food drive has on families in need.

“Near the back of St. Patrick Center, there are a lot of people waiting on food and meals,” Mr. Phillips said. “So it’s especially important that the cans we collect actually get to them and are foods they’ll use.”

Recently, federal SNAP food stamp benefits have been paused, leaving more families in the St. Louis area struggling to access basic meals.

“This year really shows how much our donations matter,” Mr. Phillips said. “Families are depending on food kitchens more than ever, so what we bring in has a real impact on people who need it right now.”

In past years, the GIC has started strong but slowed down as the competition went on. However, student leaders are determined to keep the momentum high this year.

“I don’t think we’re going to slow down at all,” senior and GIC student leader Logan Schlueter said. “I think we’ll be able to hit closer to 40,000 this year if we keep going like this.”

Some have teamed up to launch a GoFundMe campaign, others have asked local stores like Schnucks to match donations, and several have organized large contributions through family businesses. One of the top donors, junior Luca Gruszka, is going all out this year to support the drive.

“I am now working with U.S. Foods to get a truck delivered full of cans by the end of the challenge,” Gruszka said. “I simply feel like doing something good for the community around me.”

As the GIC heads into its final two weeks, students will have many opportunities to bring in more cans. The last four collection dates will be the next two Tuesdays and Fridays.

“Focus on hitting your goal and keep the energy high,” Mr. Phillips said. “If everyone brings in 10-15 pounds for each of the next collections, we can easily reach our goal. Just keep encouraging your homerooms, spreading the word, and bringing good energy every day.”