Academy Men Rally for Less Fortunate During Thanksgiving Season
November 21, 2017
At the end of October, the CBA student body gathered for the Hunger Banquet presentation, which served as the kick-off to the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
The Academy men were able to visually see how many of their peers would be in the world’s low class, a striking 50 percent of the students, which represented those who are severely in need this Thanksgiving season.
With this in mind, CBA Campus Ministry and the Student Council organized this year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive, but Principal Ross Fales added a new twist to challenge the boys.
This year, students had to bring their own non-perishable foods, without the assistance of faculty contributions. While certainly good at heart, the faculty contributions lessened the challenge on the students, which was one of the original goals of the food drive.
Like any CBA initiative, the student body rallied around each other to collect about 16,000 items of food, eclipsing the 12,000 item goal that Mr. Fales set back in October.
“Yet again, the CBA student body has shattered the Thanksgiving Food Drive’s goal, accounting for over 16,000 meals this year,” said Student Council President Gerald Sharpe said. “We are very proud of our student body, not only for providing thousands of meals for families across New Jersey, but for coming together as a school, as a brotherhood, and serving the Lord Himself.”
The collected items will now be donated to food banks around New Jersey over the next few weeks. The Keansburg Police Department has already taken two truckloads of items to Helping Hands for their annual Thanksgiving food basket giveaway.
Part of the distribution process includes additional help from CBA students, which Sharpe calls upon his peers to assist with.
“The service does not end here though. We can assist in delivering the food to local pantries, attending service trips to Asbury Park to distribute the food, and attend other immersion experiences, such as the Romero Center Trip in February, to serve those less fortunate,” Sharpe said.
About Christian Brothers Academy:
Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) is a private, Catholic, academic preparatory school for boys located in Lincroft, New Jersey. Founded in 1959 and taught in the Lasallian tradition, CBA is dedicated to helping students become intellectually mature and morally responsible leaders for society. Through the combined efforts of the Office of Advancement and friends of the Academy, CBA awards over $1.3 million in scholarships and financial aid to current students. Experience the Academy at www.CBALincroftNJ.org.