Starting November 1, the community surrounding St. Paul on the Lake Catholic School will pivot its focus toward a collective effort to address rising food insecurity. The school’s Thanksgiving food drive is shifting away from single-item collections toward a broad-based “Thanksgiving Food Frenzy,” reflecting a sobering reality: local food pantries are seeing more visitors who rely on these services for essential staples rather than as a secondary supplement.
The Shift in Local Food Security
Tricia Kesteloot, the school’s director of evangelical charity and service, notes that the decision to expand the scope of the drive wasn’t made lightly. While the school previously enjoyed success with cereal drives—including a memorable 2023 event where students arranged boxes into dominoes—the current economic environment necessitated a change in strategy. Kesteloot points out that the volume of food collections has increased significantly, yet the underlying demand remains high as families struggle to afford basic necessities.
The need for basic staple food items is too high to focus on one item. There are more food collections now than there ever have been. While people used to visit food pantries to supplement their meals, now they’re going because they can’t afford what they need.
By pivoting to a “Food Frenzy,” St. Paul is attempting to mirror the diverse needs of the pantries they serve, which include Deo Gratias Ministries, Holy Innocents-St. Barnabas Pantry, Nativity of Our Lord Pantry, St. Matthew’s Food Pantry, and St. Veronica Food Pantry.
Students Manage Donations for Community Food Pantries
The drive, which runs through November 20, relies heavily on the logistical support of students. Fourth- through sixth-graders are tasked with the daily collection and organization of donations, bringing them to the school’s gymnasium stage. This hands-on involvement is designed to teach students the value of service, or as Kesteloot describes it, the importance of having a “loving heart” rather than looking away from community hardship.
The collection list is curated to match the specific needs of the destination pantries, emphasizing items that provide long-term stability for households:
- Breakfast essentials: cereal, oatmeal, and breakfast bars.
- Staples: rice, pasta, boxed meals, and potatoes.
- Proteins: canned tuna, beans, peanut butter, and proteins.
- Shelf-stable produce: canned fruits and vegetables.
- Kitchen basics: sauces, soups, and stews.
The effort is bolstered by local partnerships, including a recurring contribution from Mark Rieth, the owner of Velvet Peanut Butter. Such collaborations allow the school to maximize the reach of their donations, ensuring that the gymnasium stage can be cleared by volunteers who transport the supplies to the pantries.
The Human Stakes of the Charity Challenge
The drive concludes on November 20 with a “Charity Challenge,” a field-day-style event that serves as the final push for the students. While the games provide a sense of celebration, the core objective remains centered on the logistics of loading cars for final delivery.
As the drive begins on Sunday, the school maintains an open-door policy for the broader community to contribute via the collection box located at the church. For those interested in deeper involvement, the parish has moved beyond simple donation collection, offering various service opportunities through their website. It is a model of civic engagement that relies on the “many hands” philosophy Kesteloot champions, ensuring that the impact is felt well beyond the walls of the school gymnasium.
