NDS has completed another successful year of the Souper Bowl for Caring drive!  We are grateful to all 16 schools and prep programs who generously collected nearly 13,000 pounds of soup in total for our network of pantries throughout the five-county area!   All donations will be used to stock the shelves of over 40 food cupboards throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Of note, was Sacred Heart Academy’s collection of over 8,000 cans, our largest collection of the season, and the largest collection ever by one school!  

“We have an opportunity to positively impact the community, not just by creating awareness around hunger, but actively working to eradicate it, and encouraging others to do the same.”

Students from Sacred Heart Academy’s lower, middle and upper schools enthusiastically participated in a friendly competition to see who could collect the most cans. Divided into two teams per division, students used their creativity and area connections to collect as much soup as possible. Recruitment of alumni family members, grocery store connections, Campbell’s Soup Corporate, and faculty/staff of Sacred Heart, students pulled together to provide thousands of cans of soups for the hungry.

Student leaders on the Committee of Games, Seniors Emma Winner and Danielle Santora, shared the sentiment, that it was a “friendly, fun competition, but for a good cause.  After working determinedly as a school, we realized how impactful our donation would be for those in need.” Abigail Loranca, member of the Seniors Community Service Corp, reflected, “We have an opportunity to positively impact the community, not just by creating awareness around hunger, but actively working to eradicate it and encouraging others to do the same.”

“Impacting the community” is a value embraced by Sacred Heart students throughout their tenure at the Academy, a school guided by the global vision of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, and the Religious of the Sacred Heart. Students are encouraged to participate in opportunities for direct service and advocacy through their third goal: “Social Awareness that impels to action.” Sacred Heart’s Service Coordinator, Kelly Weber remarked, “we are proud of our students’ leadership and commitment to service and justice, while having a fun competition to show school pride.  Although parents and teachers supported the student leaders, this activity was their initiative… and they did not forget the greater purpose to alleviate hunger.”

Sacred Heart students work hard to load thousands of cans into the NDS van to distribute to food cupboards throughout all five counties.

With thousands of donations from just one school, and nearly 13,000 in total contributions, NDS will stock the shelves of our cupboards to serve the hungry in our Philadelphia metropolitan area.  We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our schools, students, and network of organizations throughout the diocese who give their resources to serve many in need.  As stewards of their generous giving, we can truly continue to be an example of a modern day Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes.

NDS is grateful for the generosity of the Sacred Heart students and community, as well as the following schools, for their participation in this year’s drive:

  • Queen of Angels School, Willow Grove (Montgomery County)
  • Mary, Mother of the Redeemer School, North Wales (Montgomery County)
  • Saint Eugene School, Primos (Delaware County)
  • Saints Philip and James School, Exton (Chester County)
  • Saint Michael the Archangel School, Levittown (Bucks County)
  • Saint Martin de Porres School, Philadelphia
  • Saint Aloysius Academy, Bryn Mawr (Delaware County)
  • Saint Joseph the Protector School, Glenside (Montgomery County)
  • Nazareth Academy Grade School, Philadelphia
  • Archbishop Ryan High School, Philadelphia
  • Saint Denis PREP Program, Havertown (Delaware County)
  • Cardinal John Foley Regional Catholic School, Havertown (Delaware County)
  • Saint Albert the Great School, Huntingdon Valley (Montgomery County)
  • Mother of Providence School, Wallingford (Delaware County)
  • Saint Pio Catholic Regional School (Philadelphia)
  • Saint Hubert Catholic High School For Girls (Philadelphia)

Upcoming Drives: Lenten one-can meal and CRS Rice Bowl begin Ash Wednesday (March 6).  Twenty-five percent of the CRS collection stays local to support our NDS food cupboards.  We are so thankful for your continued support and generosity!

For more information, please contact Denise Hopkins: dhopkins@ndsarch.org