Students at St. Thomas of Villanova are celebrating after collecting over 100,000 canned goods for the local community.
Over the last six years, the students have run a year-long can drive and made donations to eight food banks in Windsor-Essex.
Teacher Andy Paling says the idea started after a Christmas canned food drive six years ago.
"My daughter actually came up with the idea. We used to do our Christmas food drive and she said, 'well what happens the rest of the year?' We approached the principal at the time and came up with the program Food Bank Fridays," says Paling.
Canned food donations from Villanova High School, April 11, 2018. Photo by Maureen Revait)
This month's donation, including the 100,000th can, is going to the Olde Sandwich Town Food Bank.
Twice a year the Windsor Port Authority assists with delivering the cans to the food banks and matches the number of cans with a cash donation. The port authority is donating $2,500 to the food bank to help purchase fresh vegetables and meat.
