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 79,082 cans and cash equivalent, which is the second largest amount in the drive’s nearly 50-year history by more than 1,000 cans. 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 Friday, November 17.
“Mount St. Mary Academy’s crest reads, ‘A Tradition of Excellence,’ and that is what Robin Hood Days means to me,” said Alison Gambill ’24, student body president. “It’s 500 lovely young ladies joining together to do something greater than ourselves each year because our hearts are forever Mercy minded.”
During the month-long drive, students collected cans and cash donations from family, friends and neighbors in addition to holding class-sponsored fundraisers. 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 doubled its individual goal by collecting 24,839 cans. The freshman class came in second with 19,040 cans.
“Seeing my girls empty their own wallets and bring in large bags of cans will forever drill home that the heartbeat of Mount St. Mary Academy is the standard of greatness and service instilled in our young ladies,” Alison said. “I am proud and honored to be a part of this group of young women that take improving their community seriously and personally.”
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.
