For God’s Greater Glory
Annual Thanksgiving drive feeds over 500 families in Mid-City.
The Thanksgiving drive at Jesuit is often remembered as the hallmark of one’s Jesuit career. No matter if you are shopping, donating food, or delivering the baskets, you can always find a way to connect to families in a spirit of charity and gratitude.
The annual tradition began before the sun rose as a sea of khaki descended on Robert’s Market located on Allen Toussaint Blvd. Gathering by homeroom, the Jays filled their carts with perishable items, such as milk, eggs, butter, and fruits and vegetables. The items were then rushed back to Carrollton and Banks where they were sorted by the homerooms into individual boxes destined for each family. Before the delivery began, the entire student body gathered in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs for a prayer service.
“It’s about the people, not the baskets.” - Mr. Jeff Miraflor, S.J.
Senior Charles Lemann, reflecting on his own summer service experience, spoke at the prayer service stating, “The Thanksgiving Drive instills the virtues that Jesuit wants to have in a student such as loving, service and justice.” The experience of delivering the baskets to the families, seeing all the smiles on their face, certainly leads one to better understand Jesuit’s commitment to the drive.Mr. Scott Delatte ‘06, the service director at Jesuit, spoke on the topic of the importance of delivering to the families. He went on to say, “Nothing that we have is earned on our own. Ever thing has been given to us in some way from either God or others. So, we try to stand in gratitude for everything that they have given us. As a result, justice demands that we give back to those that we see. Just like how the bible say in Luke 12:48, To whom much is given, much is expected.”
In his address to the student body, Mr. Miraflor, S.J., reminded everyone that the drive was not simply about the baskets; but rather, it was about the people we were called to serve. The baskets, in Mr. Miraflor’s opinion, are simply the context in which we can be Christ to everyone we meet on the drive.
Watching the Jays depart from Jesuit on their delivery routes, one thing was immediately clear: this was a total community effort. The fact that every student participates in some manner, no matter how small, shows the importance of having each other's back and being grateful for our friends that we care for so much. Senior Lucas Nicholson-Uh said, “I truly felt a stronger bond with my classmates after the Thanksgiving drive.” No matter one’s role in the Thanksgiving drive, something that everyone can attest to is that it was incredibly special to give back to the community with joy and thanks in one’s heart.
