ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ - Mother Teresa Regional School, Atlantic Highlands, reached its goal of collecting 1 ton of food to help local food pantries provide Thanksgiving dinner to people in need.  Students competed in the school’s annual Hunger Challenge and brought in items which will be donated to food panties of the five sponsoring parishes and The Barn for the Poorest of the Poor.  In addition to collecting the food, during the students Faith in Action Friday, buddies worked together to create placemats and cards for the families who will receive the food donations.  Project Paul, from St. Ann’s in Keansburg, picked up donations of yams and gravy to compliment their food pantry.  Students and faculty will be working at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Friday, November 18^th to put together baskets of food to be distributed for Thanksgiving.  “Each year I am amazed at the generosity of our students.  This year, the coveted Turkey Trophy was won by Jude House,” according to Principal Melissa Whalen Wisk. 

Fourth graders presented an assembly this month on the loaves and fishes story of the Bible.  They reminded their fellow students how a little snack money given to others can turn into wonderful things.  That day, students donated their snack money and raised over $30 to purchase additional food toward the Hunger Challenge.  Teacher, Mrs. Michelle Taylor, was very proud of the effort of her students who wrote and acted in the assembly.  “The Turkey Trophy looks really good on my desk” joked Jennifer Baeder, “but it is even better knowing that we were able to help so many families to win it.”  The students will continue to collect food throughout the year to support the parish food pantries.  In addition, they are bringing in extra bagged lunches for the Barn for the Poorest of the Poor every Tuesday.  For more information about The Hunger Challenge or Mother Teresa Regional School visit mtregional.com