​Catholic Charities hosts annual food drive and service campaign

Catholic Charities hosts annual food drive and service campaign

Catholic Charities kicked off the 40 Cans for Lent and 40 Days of Service to engage the community in a non-denominational effort to feed the hungry and strengthen the most vulnerable during Lent February 27-April 9.

40 Cans for Lent aims to collect 100,000 pounds of food to feed food insecure people regardless of race, religion, or national origin through Catholic Charities Food Pantries at Guadalupe Community Center and St. Stephen’s CARE Center as well as the Mobile Food Pantry.

40 Days of Service plans to engage the community to serve others by preparing for crisis response, providing humanitarian aid, mentoring and tutoring youth, visiting isolated seniors, and much more.

The kickoff event on February 27 at the Guadalupe Community Center saw 300 partners, university, elementary, and high school students, Catholic clergy and parishioners, businesses, and others as the community unite to fight hunger and encounter those in need. KENS 5 Meterologist Bill Taylor emceed the event with remarks given by Catholic Charities President/CEO J. Antonio Fernández and Catholic School Superintendent Marti West with additional comments by partners.

Three hundred Catholic school students and university students were on site to officially kickoff both campaigns by unloading donated pallets of food from H-E-B, Goya, and the RK Group for the food drive and by beginning community service efforts planting in the St. Phocas Garden, the west side’s only organic garden, preparing client lunches, sorting clothing donations, making hygiene kits, and more.

Individuals and organizations interested in participating in 40 Cans for Lent by hosting a food drive can contact Tom Hoog at [email protected] to request a collection bin. Individuals and organizations interested in participating in 40 Days of Service by volunteering can visit the webpage at www.ccaosa.org/40daysofservice.