Mount Carmel’s Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive is a tradition that has lasted for at least thirty years, and the student body has reached its goal each time.  This year, the Caravan’s goal is collect at least 125 cans per Studium, which is about 5 cans from each student. The school has 24 Studium, so if you do the math that’s a lot of cans!

This year’s food drive began on November 3 and will continue to Friday, November 22.   The food will be donated to the Maple-Morgan Park Food Pantry, which is under the direction of Mount Carmel alumnus Matt Taylor ’57.

Theology  teacher Mr. Dara Behzadi, who is the advisor for Studium 109, is motivated to increase the numbers of cans in his homeroom. “I’ll put our target number up on the board and encourage the students to be the Men of Carmel they are called to be.” Behzadi seems to have a good plan for his homeroom which already has collected a number of cans.

Behzadi is counting on upperclassmen to take leading roles in this annual food drive, and seniors like Ako Thomas are stepping up.  “I think it’s good to give, as some people are not fortunate to have enough money to pay for food on Thanksgiving.” Thomas participates in the food drive each year and thinks it’s a great opportunity to help others.

But students at all level, including freshmen, will need to participate in order for the school to reach its goal. Freshman also do what they need to do.   As Freshmen Matthew Yoways pledged, “I plan to just bring in food.”