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 grand total of 76,360 cans and cash equivalent this year, besting last year’s number by more than 7,000 cans! The results of the student-led drive, which will benefit 11 local organizations that provide meals for Arkansas families in need, were announced at the end of the school’s Thanksgiving Prayer Service on November 21.
“This year we raised over 76,000 cans to help local charities and food banks around Arkansas,” Josie Wrape ’26, student body president, said. “It really is a team effort from the whole school – every day a new person walks in with a bag of cans or some loose change they found in their car, just because they want to help out. I love seeing all the people who donate with a smile on their face because it truly makes a difference in so many ways.”
During the three-week-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 10,000 cans and cash equivalent. This year’s winning class was the senior class, which more than doubled its individual goal by collecting 27,388 cans. The sophomore class came in second with 16,446 cans followed by the juniors and freshmen with 16,346 and 16,180 cans, respectively.
"Mount St. Mary Academy's annual Robin Hood Days canned food drive is a powerful expression of our mission," Allison Caldarera, MSM student services coordinator and student council sponsor, said. "For three weeks, our students channel their energy into selfless service, focused on assisting members of the community who are less fortunate. This dedication perfectly embodies the values we strive to instill. This year, they shattered their goal, and I could not be prouder of their incredible efforts!"
For more than 50 years, Robin Hood Days has helped provide food and monetary donations to local organizations, including The Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock, Arkansas Foodbank, Our House, ABBA House, Potluck Inc., Jericho Way, The Van, Centers for Youth and Families, Catholic Charities of Arkansas, Women and Children First, and the St. Vincent DePaul Society, 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.
