Xavier Community Donates Over Half-Million Cans

Giving back to the community is a way of life for students at Xavier College Preparatory. In fact, each year students give over 30,000 hours doing volunteer work and community service as part of Xavier’s Christian Service Program. Many activities are designed by students where they see a need to fulfill.

Xavier’s National Honor Society started its Canned Food Drive to benefit St. Vincent de Paul in the 1990’s. The initial goal was 10,000 cans. Each year Xavier breaks the record of food collected. This year the Xavier community donated 501,863 cans!

When asked why she was involved, Junior and NHS member, Lily Foster said,

All the people willing to donate gave me the drive to keep coming to school early. It was a humbling thing to be involved in.

Making a difference for the people who depend on St. Vincent de Paul gives me solace and a purpose. I am very lucky to have the education, food, support, and housing, so helping others in a small way gives me joy to know some people’s

lives are getting a little bit better. It also shows that there is hope, kindness, and love in the world — and it is especially present in the Xavier community.

Every week at Xavier there’s another effort to give back to the community.

On a recent Saturday evening a group of students, faculty, and staff came together to help the less fortunate on the streets of Phoenix.

Students from Xavier’s Home Economics Cooking Class made large quantities of chicken alfredo for distribution at Walk By Faith Homeless Outreach Ministry. Sisters Joanie, Lynn, Kathleen, and Isabel along with a group of faculty and staff spent the evening dishing out and serving meals to the homeless.