29-01-2025
Regis students help pack meals to help local families, food pantries face food insecurity
EAU CLAIRE — As students gathered into Regis' gymnasium on Tuesday, more and more boxes were piled up on the walls that contained food to help against food insecurity in the Eau Claire community.
The service project at Regis was a part of the schools celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Additionally, the opportunity was a way to serve the community and help families and community members who may struggle with affording meals among other expenses.
Regis Principal Bill Giese said, 'We see this as a way to work towards fixing that problem, and it gives the kids hands-on experience with serving others which is what our whole catholic mission is.'
The school collaborated with US Hunger, a non-profit organization that helps get food to families in need and organizes meal packing events like the one at Regis. In total, middle and high school students throughout the day managed to package nearly 20,736 meals.
'The school had done this in years past, but it had been awhile,' said Giese. 'We brought it back this year as a way to serve others. We also asked for donations from part of our families, because it does cost quite a bit to buy all of this food and the materials, but families donated and we had it covered pretty easily. It says a lot about our Regis community.'
With another decision made by the school, the student council decided that their impact would be beneficial in supporting the local community. Therefore, all the food packaged on Tuesday would be going towards local food banks as a means to support local families who seek support through these services.
Grades took turns filling up food bags in the gymnasium, with 11th and 12th graders starting the school-wide effort in the morning.
'One in eight families suffer from food insecurity, not knowing if they can afford to put a healthy meal on the table… or if they need that money for health or any other problems they are facing,' said Tony Wesner, a high schooler at Regis.
'It is really important for us, because it is part of the Catholic faith to help other people out…' said Dominic Santine, a fellow high schooler at Regis. 'And if you are going to do this with your friends, it is really fun too. It is important, and I am just happy to know that we are helping people while we are doing this.'
With more work packaging meal bags following their time spent in the gymnasium, Santine said he hopes their involvement in the service project will inspire younger grades. On top of that, both Santine and Wesner said their hope is for the work done throughout the day to impact the community as well.
'It is all about the small things that can lead to big things,' said Santine. 'And that is exactly what this is: something small that will have big impacts on the community.'
