What better way is there to remember Lent than to feed 100 families?

That’s the task that the members of the student council at Saint Peter Catholic School in Monument set for themselves.

“The initiative was driven by the school’s student council, which set an ambitious goal to feed 100 families in 40 days and took full ownership of making it happen,” Student Council Advisor Val Holley said. “They organized the campaign and encouraged participation from school families, friends and the wider community.”

To guide donations, the students created weekly themes starting with cooking essentials like flour, sugar and oil. That was followed by by breakfast items such as pancake mix and cereal. They went on to collect canned fruits, vegetables, applesauce, meats and beans before wrapping up with dinner staples like pasta, sauce and tomatoes. The structure was done to help ensure that the food collected would provide balanced meals for families in need.

In total, the effort brought in more than 1,100 pounds of food, a significant achievement for a small school community.

“I am so proud of the ongoing efforts these students have set for themselves as a team to help others in need and share hope throughout the community,” Holley said. “They recognized a need in our community and exceeded the expectations they set for themselves. As mentors in our school, setting the example of almsgiving and the virtue of charity for the younger generations is what makes our Catholic school so special.”

This was the first such effort by the small, pre-k to eight grade located at 124 1st Street in Monument. The school worked closely with Tri-Lakes Cares, and with the support of volunteer Ellen Nelson, the students successfully connected their efforts to families in the community.

Donations were transferred on April 8.