From the Suburbs to the City - Devon Prep students collect food for Philly

Students from Devon Preparatory School in Chester County worked tirelessly this fall collecting donations for their Harvest Food Drive benefiting St. Elizabeth’s Community Center in north Philadelphia. Members of Devon Prep’s Christian Action Program collected more than 6,000 food items including canned and boxed goods, as well as 28 turkeys.

All of this food, more than 150 cartons, was first presented to Devon Prep Headmaster Rev. James Shea, Sch. P. to be blessed during a Mass of Thanksgiving in the school’s gym. After the Mass CAP members delivered the donations, enough to feed 100 families, to the Project H.O.M.E Food Cupboard at St. Elizabeth’s.

Helen Brown, director of the Food Cupboard, and several volunteers were on hand to accept Devon Prep’s generous donations, which included canned vegetables and soups, jars of apple sauce, peanut butter and jams, boxes of pasta, stuffing, rice and mashed potatoes, tomato sauce, tuna fish and peanut butter.

Devon Prep has had a long standing connection to St. Elizabeth’s Community Center. Each year CAP conducts food, clothing and school supplies drives that benefit the center.

Devon Prep’s CAP provides students in grades six through 12 with the opportunity to care for and help those less fortunate. In addition to the food drive, their activities include sponsoring two fund raisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, hosting a Christmas party for residents of St. Edmond’s Home, providing Christmas gifts for residents of area shelters, and conducting clothing drives for the needy.