Rockway's Annual Food Drive: Families Feeding Families
Unexpected unemployment or illness devastates a family. A new Canadian with children has no job. An abusive relationship destabilizes a family unit. A student seeking higher education is not able to afford both tuition and food…
These are the real life situations that Christine Rier, Development Director at the House of Friendship, shared at our Food Drive kick-off chapel this morning. She is predicting that 10,000 people will be nourished by the House of Friendship Christmas Hamper Program this year.
Rockway’s Annual Food Drive for the House of Friendship is one of our most valuable relationship-building traditions. This long-standing tradition matters because it truly creates value. Value not only for each of us at Rockway, but also for the House of Friendship, and for those people in our region who find themselves in need of food and encouragement this season.
The Spirit of Generosity
Every day, teachers, staff and students sit shoulder to shoulder, walk the halls and learn in community with other givers.
We have witnessed generous students asking for Food Drive donations instead of gifts at their birthday party. We’ve seen someone donate their own allowance to the cause, and yet another who has volunteered their own time to pack or deliver Christmas Hampers. This year already, Rockway students opted to collect food instead of candy on Hallowe’en in anticipation of our Food Drive!
Our Goal: Focus on Families
Rockway’s Student Council has chosen to focus on the number of families fed instead of trying to break another school record for the most food items collected during the drive.
The goal is to feed 250 families in Waterloo Region.
With our thoughts focused on quality of food over quantity, the following are food items that the House of Friendship suggests:
- Canned beans
- Soup (canned or dried)
- Orange juice/fruit crystals
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Honey
- Peanut Butter
- Macaroni and cheese
- Canned tuna or salmon
- Pasta
- The House of Friendship also values cash or cheques (made out to “House of Friendship”) so they can purchase the food items they need most.
Collections of food will be welcome until Wednesday, December 9th and cash or cheques will be collected until Thursday, December 10th.
Please join us in our community pledge to be “families feeding families” this year.
