Mount St. Dominic Academy Holds Thanksgiving Food Drive

The Mount Continues its Tradition of Giving with a Heartwarming Thanksgiving Food Drive

Mount St. Dominic Academy,Neighbor

Posted Fri, Nov 22, 2024 at 3:40 pm ET|Updated Fri, Nov 22, 2024 at 3:49 pm 

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At Mount St. Dominic Academy, the spirit of giving shines brightly each Thanksgiving season. This year, the Sophomore Members of (STUCO), guided by Mount teachers Dr. Lidiya Tornyova, STUCO moderator, and Mr. Mike Vigil, student activities moderator, and Sister Patricia Hogan, OP, orchestrated a heartwarming and impactful Thanksgiving Food Drive, collecting an abundance of food and monetary donations to sweeten the holidays for those who need it most.

With the enthusiastic support of students, staff, and faculty, the drive culminated in two van loads of canned and boxed goods brimming with holiday essentials, all delivered to the community of Holy Spirit/Our Lady Help of Christians Parish and School in East Orange. “It felt good giving back so everyone can have a really good Thanksgiving dinner,” shared Sophomore Class President Luciana Cader of Caldwell, reflecting the sentiments of many involved.

The project kicked off earlier in the month when students in Sister Patricia Tully’s religion classes creatively decorated collection boxes for each homeroom, setting the tone for the festive drive. The beautifully adorned boxes filled quickly, demonstrating the generosity and teamwork that define The Mount community.

Sophomore Class Vice President Sanaya Mistry from Cedar Grove captured the essence of the drive perfectly: “Everyone should have family and good food to be around for Thanksgiving. It's all about being thankful, and it’s so nice that we are able to give people a reason to be thankful.”

On delivery day, STUCO members from every grade, along with the Siena Cabinet and MSDA’s Facilities Manager Orlando Ortiz, loaded goods into vans for transport. Their hard work ensured that the donations reached their destination, spreading love and hope to families in need. “Thanksgiving is a time to be surrounded by love and hope,” said Sophomore Class Treasurer Sophia Bautista of Lyndhurst. “This food gives them the opportunity to feel loved by The Mount.”

The Mount community's kindness did not go unnoticed. As Sophomore Class Secretary Giuliana Parelli of Belleville put it, “It feels great to help others.”

Reflecting on the success of the drive, Mount St. Dominic Academy Principal Dr. Karen D’Avino shared, “This food drive is more than just a collection of goods—it’s a reflection of our school’s Dominican mission to empower young women to serve others with compassion and generosity. Seeing our students come together to make such a meaningful impact is a reminder of the extraordinary power of community.”

From all of us at The Mount, thank you to all for making this Thanksgiving season brighter for so many. Your generosity exemplifies the true meaning of gratitude and giving back, inspiring us all to continue spreading love and hope throughout the year.

About Mount St. Dominic Academy: MSDA, established by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is an independent, Catholic college preparatory school dedicated to the education of young women from a variety of ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. Located in the heart of bucolic Caldwell, New Jersey, the Mount has been empowering young women in the Dominican tradition since 1892. Mount St. Dominic Academy is a proud member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the International Coalition of Girls' Schools, the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools, the National Catholic Educational Association, and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Mount is also a recipient of the 2024 College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for its outstanding achievement in fostering high female representation in both AP Computer Science A (CSA) and AP Computer Science Principles (CSP), and earned “Gold with Access” on the 2024 College Board AP School Honor Roll, the 2023 Best of Essex Gold Medal in the "Best in Private School” category, and has been named a Niche A+ 2024 Best School, a distinction achieved by only 2.5% of schools in the country. Visit the Mount for more information.