St. Patrick's Catholic High School is celebrating the success of its 39th annual Irish Miracle food drive held earlier this month.
Teacher Vanessa Borody is stunned by the community support that staff, students and volunteers received when canvassing Sarnia, Bright's Grove and Point Edward.
Irish Miracle 2022. Image courtesy of St. Patrick's Catholic High School.
"It was unbelievable this year," Borody told Sarnia News Today. "We just recently got the count from St. Vincent de Paul that we had 1,376 boxes and because the boxes are actually significantly large, and weigh quite a bit, it equals about 61,920 pounds of food total. Which is just astronomical."
Borody said the donations will make a huge impact at the food bank.
"This year, [St. Vincent de Paul] decided to change their hampers to gift cards. Where historically, they would have used a lot of this food to fill Christmas hampers, what they did is get donations from their congregation. So, all of this food, every single bit of it, is going to go towards their food bank."
Borody said monetary donations were also collected.
Irish Miracle 2022. Image courtesy of St. Patrick's Catholic High School.
"We raised almost $1,700 just by going door-to-door. People who didn't have cans were offering money or both."
Borody said the Knights of Columbus counted hundreds of volunteers.
"Since the 80s they've been making breakfast for us for all of the canvassers and they said they served over 500 breakfasts that day."
Borody said as soon as the second semester starts they'll start planning Cyclone Aid, the spring food drive supports the Inn of the Good Shepherd.
