Bro. Jack Ventura, SM, Ministry Lead of MFEP and Director of Mission Integration at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory, Hollywood, FL, sends us this update.
Goal # 2 of the Marianist Family Encounter Project states that we will promote Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. Goal # 5 states that we will empower through our Family Spirit. John Monaco, Moderator of the Interact Club at CMCP in Hollywood, FL, submits the following article.
"On November 21st, 2024, students at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood, FL, participated in the 16th Annual Adopt-a-Family Harvest Drive. Sponsored by the school's Interact Club (an extension of Rotary International), the Adopt-a-Family Harvest Drive is a long-standing tradition here at Chaminade-Madonna. The goal of the drive is simple: we desire to feed the hungry, the less fortunate, and those who suffer from lack of food during a time of year when many of us enjoy an abundance. The Interact Club works together with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Little Flower Parish to feed upwards of 175 families in the greater Hollywood area.
The Harvest Drive is composed of three stages. The first stage is the collection, in which every Test Prep class at CMCP is assigned a family to sponsor. The students of the class, together with their families, try to bring in as many of the requested items: cans of corn, beans, boxed milk, toothbrushes, vegetable oil, etc. After bringing in the items, the Interact Club collects the items and brings them to the gym for the second stage-- the packing. With all of the donated goods in the gym, students then sort the items and then go 'grocery shopping' to make sure each family has enough for their particular needs. The final stage is the distribution, wherein the local St. Vincent de Paul Society brings their vehicles, and students load the goods into their vehicles to be delivered to the families prior to Thanksgiving Day. This year, we collected enough food products and personal items to feed and help over 100 families in the community.
This event manifests our school's Marianist charism, especially in its social justice dimension. As Marianist educators, we are called to educate for service, justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. The Adopt-a-Family Harvest Drive inspires students to apply what they learn about God and work towards a better world and then put it into practice through concrete actions. It is our hope that the Harvest Drive continues to bring much-necessary relief to those most in need."
I particularly like that the Interact Club works through Rotary International and with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. We don't have to invent new outlets for our action just engage with other programs that focus on the same goals! Thanks for sharing this story.