Notre Dame Academy students raised the bar for making a difference when they broke the school’s all-time record by collecting 17,394 canned food items in November. That is 1,644 more canned food items than the record set in 2010 when the annual canned food drive was established. Over the past 12 years, Notre Dame Academy students have made a significant difference by collecting a total of 108,080 canned food items which have been donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Northern Kentucky.
This annual service event began when Student Council leaders from Notre Dame Academy visited a local St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and saw several empty shelves. The students were very concerned that those in need would go without during the winter months so they took action by organizing a canned food drive. They soon realized that by challenging students from another high school, they could double the difference they would make for the less fortunate of the community so they invited Covington Catholic High School to compete in a Canned Food War. That year the Pandas “Canned the Colonels” by collecting 15,750 canned food items.
Over the years, Notre Dame Academy’s Student Council has changed the annual canned food drive a bit. This year they inspired students to participate with out-of-uniform days and weekly giveaway baskets. Some years they have repeated the canned food challenge to Covington Catholic and other years, like this one, the NDA Pandas challenged the St. Henry Crusaders. Although our Pandas hoped to “Can the Cru” as they have in year’s past, St. Henry came through with more canned food items and won this year’s canned food war.
“We not only congratulate our friends at St. Henry on the amazing number of canned food items they collected, but we also thank them for joining in the fun and helping us make a difference in the lives of those in need this winter,” said NDA Principal/Interim President Mr. Jack VonHandorf. He added, “Everyone is a winner when our spirited students of the Diocese work together for a common good.”
Students at Notre Dame Academy celebrated their record-breaking number of canned food items by gathering together and giving thanks to God at NDA’s annual Thanksgiving prayer service. They also received the perk of an early dismissal the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break.