Students CAN Make a Difference

Find out how you CAN make a CAN-full of difference to our local community. 

This Monday was the kickoff of Christian Brothers’ annual Thanksgiving canned food drive. This service opportunity gives students the chance to give back to the Oak Park community while also making a difference in the lives of others.

Every year CB puts on a two week long canned food drive that ends right before Thanksgiving break. Students are encouraged to donate at least two cans to the cause, but more is always merrier.

There have been a few changes to the canned food drive this year, first being where the cans are to be donated.

“In the past, we’ve delivered cans to a low-income housing community that is located outside of the Oak Park community,” according to canned food drive coordinator Ms. Jennifer Lystrup. This year, however, Ms. Lystrup and the group facilitating the canned food drive have decided to donate the cans to the Sacramento Food Bank located in the Oak Park neighborhood.

“There is a great need in the Oak Park [community]” says Ms. Lystrup. “We want to be good neighbors.”

Also, this year students will be encouraged to bring in cans to their B set class, rather than having an actual competition between classes like we have had in the past.

Students should bring canned foods such as yams, corn, pumpkin, or any other canned foods that relate to the Thanksgiving season. Packaged foods can also be donated as long as they contain non-perishable items.

Last year, CB donated about 1,000 cans of food. This year, Ms. Lystrup would like to double that.

“If each student brings in at least two cans of food, we would have about 2,000 cans of food [to donate to the Food Bank].”

So remember to help out the Oak Park community by donating lots of cans before going on Thanksgiving break.