Regina students give thanks, feed families

WARREN — The students who attend Regina High School recently demonstrated the meaning of Thanksgiving.

While they gave “thanks” for all of the Lord’s blessings, they also showed the spirit of “giving” by donating food to local pantries that will help families in need.

The Student Council of the all-girls Catholic high school held a food drive from Nov. 1 through Nov. 17. During that time, students and staff throughout the building donated canned goods, nonperishable items and baby food. Each day, stuffing mix, spaghetti sauce, juice, canned vegetables, bottled water, macaroni and cheese, snacks, hot chocolate and more were added to the food drive. Money and diapers were donated as well.

Under the guidance of Student Council staff moderator Jen Perrino, seniors Katie Regnerus and Adrianna Lucido organized the food collection while senior Zoë Hunt and junior Kennedy Roskopp led the Thanksgiving food drive. The school holds the drive every year.

“We had a great turnout this year,” Regnerus said. “We filled our entire stage with the food in the cafeteria.”

“We did really, really well this year,” Lucido said.

Both Regnerus and Lucido appreciated everyone who contributed food.

“We would not be able to do this without them,” Regnerus said. “It feels good to give back to the community.”

“Thank you to everyone for helping us out so we could give back to the community,” Lucido said.

All the food items were sorted and given to the following six charities: Capuchin Soup Kitchen, St. Patrick’s Senior Center, St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen, and Nativity Church Food Pantry, all located in Detroit; the St. Margaret of Scotland Food Pantry in St. Clair Shores; and St. Isidore Baby Pantry in Macomb Township. Each nonprofit organization also received some clothing and monetary donations.

On Nov. 22, two days before Thanksgiving, the Regina student body, staff and representatives from the local charities gathered in the school gymnasium for a prayer service.

“I am deeply grateful to all of you for the spirit you have to go out and get all this food,” campus minister Nick Stann said as the service began. “Holy Spirit, I ask that you be with this community today. Watch over us. Let us think about the really good things God has blessed us with.”

School President Mary Treder Lang also addressed the students.

“Thankfulness is not some sort of magic formula. It’s a language of love and, boy, do I feel love in this room right now,” she said. “I want to share how truly, truly grateful we are to each and every one of you for your care and compassion.”

During the assembly, several students read aloud what they were thankful for, including their homes, food, pets, ability to learn, medicine, first responders, health, good friends, parents and God. Their messages were written on paper handprints and then attached to a cross that lit up with Christmas lights.

After the service, the food was loaded into vans of the different charities and shipped to their community facilities immediately. The food was then distributed to local families in time for Thanksgiving.