TMP food drive collects 3,105 items for food bank

TMP juniors load donated food bound for the St. Joseph Food Pantry.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Food stacked in one of the classroom doors as part of Can Your Class food drive.

Thomas More Prep-Marian students this week completed the Can Your Class food drive, collecting 3,105 food items for the St. Joseph Food Bank.

Spanish teacher Melissa Pinkney came up for the idea for the drive. The students were challenged to bring enough food to fill up the doorway to their classrooms. The class that donated the largest amount of food earned a free class period with popcorn.

Pinkney said she was shocked by the students’ response to the challenge.

It was a tight competition, but Mr. Denton’s senior and sophomore English classes won the competition.

The junior class delivered and sorted the food for the pantry during its academy period.

“I know Renee Michaud at the food pantry was very thankful. When we brought the food, the room was quite bare,” Pinkney said.

Learning about service and charity are important aspects of the TMP education, Pinkney said.

TMP students sort donated food at the St. Joseph Food Pantry.

“I think for the younger generations, they have to experience the service. That helps them in their mind make connections to the community, but also TMP is about giving back,” she said. “That is one of our main goals is to teach about service and how important it is.”