This year’s Robin Hood Days was once again a big success thanks to students’ hard work and creative can-collecting activities. The annual canned food drive collected a total of 78,031 cans and cash equivalent, which is the second largest amount in its nearly 50-year history. The results of the student-led drive, which benefits local organizations that provide meals for Arkansas families in need, were announced at the end of the school’s Thanksgiving Prayer Service on November 18.
“I was so excited to hear the results from this year’s drive,” exclaimed Anna Mammarelli ’23, student body president. “Robin Hood Days is my favorite MSM tradition because the passion and energy for feeding the poor is palpable. I love seeing Mount Girls join together to channel our unwavering spirit into a worthy cause, feeding deserving families for months.”
During the month-long drive, students collected cans and cash donations from family, friends and neighbors in addition to holding class-sponsored fundraisers like purchasing a raffle ticket for the chance to stick a pie in the face of your favorite teacher. Each class ultimately surpassed its individual goal of 10,0000 cans and cash equivalent before Robin Hood Days concluded. This year’s winning class was the senior class, which more than tripled its individual goal by collecting 33,052 cans. The freshman class came in second with 16,309 cans.
“This year the [can-collecting] ideas have been so incredibly creative, such as the freshmen’s root beer floats, the sophomores’ candy guessing game, the juniors setting up camp at Trader Joe’s, and the seniors’ raffle basket,” Anna said. “I’m most proud of the support that grades extend to each other, from sharing donation tactics to purchasing their goods, in order to help achieve our overall goal.”
For nearly 50 years, Robin Hood Days has helped provide food and monetary donations to local organizations, including Arkansas Foodbank, The Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock, Rice Depot, Union Rescue Mission, Jericho Way, Our House, OXFAM and Catholic Social Services, among others. It is estimated that more than 1 million canned goods have been collected by Mount St. Mary Academy since the event began in 1974.
“Our girls put forward so much effort for this event each year, and it’s always wonderful to see their hard work pay off,” said Cheri Martinka ’85, MSM social studies teacher and student council coordinator. “Robin Hood Days is an important way for us to help the students of Mount St. Mary Academy see the impact they can have on the lives of those in our community who are in need.”
View photos of the Mount St. Mary Academy community helping load donated canned goods into the vehicles of this year’s benefiting organizations at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAfPCZ.