The Visor

Annual canned food drive focuses on area homeless

Photo Credit: Ben Edwards

The school plans to reach the goal of 38,000 cans by Nov. 23. First period
classes compete for the most cans and battle for the coveted golden can.

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April 6, 2011

Nick Pelini, Online Editor

Since the 1960s, Hoban has held the annual canned food drive to benefit the local homeless. After an astounding 36,222 cans were brought in last year, the goal this year has been elevated to 38,000 cans.
Students can bring in cans to their first period class each day until Monday, Nov. 23 when the drive ends.
The class that brings in the most cans is awarded the much-desired Golden Can Award. The
class competition can be viewed as a distraction from the focus of the drive or a spark to ignite classes to bring in cans that feed those who desperately need it.
Br. Ed Libbers’ class has been in the lead for much of the drive due to smart planning.
“Our whole class brought in money, and [sophomore] Aaron Cain collected it to go buy cans,” sophomore Colleen Fearon said. “It all started because Br. Ed is leading the charge.”
Though Libbers may be leading now, fellow chemistry teacher Randy Solsman always guides a class to be feared.
“Our strategy is nothing I can discuss, but I’m upset Mrs. Swinerton doesn’t have a class to compete with,” Solsman said. “We can easily beat Br. Ed though.”
Students are vital to making the canned food drive a success, and though cans can be a strain on a tight budget, campus minister Scott Kopp sees the benefits of students participating.
“ The goal is fulfilling the Gospel of feeding the hungry,” Kopp said. “Sometimes the competition can take over, but the goal is always the same.”
The canned food drive has evolved tremendously over the years, but Kopp remembers how the modern canned food drive began.
“In 2004, anybody could get together and form teams,” Kopp said. “We were hardly meeting our goal, so student council came up with the idea of a canned food drive. First period classes were made into teams then we added announcements with singing, and we almost doubled our goal.”
All of the cans collected are distributed to organizations throughout the local area. Hoban sends cans to parish St. Vincent de Paul Societies, Akron-Canton Food Bank, Haven of Rest and Open M among numerous other groups.