HAMMOND/MICHIGAN CITY – Perhaps Bishop Noll Institute students built an igloo because they were inspired by living in what feels like frozen tundra at times. Maybe the Marquette Catholic High School’s blazers modeled their turkey from the recent holiday during which people give thanks.
Teens from both schools drew from their creativity to build monuments of their collection of food items while assisting local charity. Wrapping up on Dec. 4, the annual Catholic Charities seasonal food drive among diocesan high schools netted a truck full of foodstuffs and a trophy to mark which display of beneficence was top notch.
“I think it builds character for the students,” said BNI art teacher Dana Moore. “This (charitable effort) gives them a more real-world perspective on things, having them construct something out of those items gives them more incentive to bring those items in … and giving maybe more of a lightheartedness to something that is seriously impacting our country.”
In Hammond, Warriors kept it simple, depositing cans of corn and chicken noodle soup with boxes of macaroni and cheese to help create their igloo. Additional storage space was requisitioned for the bountiful donations made to help put a dent in food insecurity among the Calumet Region’s residents.
BNI seniors led the charge to build a structure that would keep sturdiness as the priority and still speak to a theme. Gianna Gaal, Anna De La Torre and Dusan Knezevic spent a portion of their class time over two days designing a domed structure set in the main hallway near the athletic offices.
The opportunity to put “faith in action,” was lauded by the teens, who hoped others would make similar efforts throughout the year.
“You should get inspiration first,” said De La Torre, pointing to the foundation of the structure. “You should know how to build – in pictures, this looks like all the cans and boxes are floating, but that’s not the case.”
They soon realized that the weight of cans filled with meat, fruits and vegetables were heavy. Knezevic was a small-scale architect and engineer. Instead of aiming to build the Sears Tower of food buildings, they opted for a design that remained squat. Both Gaal and De la Torre said their senior classmate was being modest about his accomplishments.
The students joked about the structure draped with white fabric to resemble an ice hut as classmates walked by. But they returned to the spirit of the effort, saddened to hear news delivered by Tina Gunnum, Catholic Charities food pantry manager, about the uptick in poverty in the U.S. and in Hammond in recent years.
According to Gunnum, more than 50 students at East Chicago Central High School can be classified as homeless. Nationally, the economic picture has left millions of people vulnerable to food insecurity.
“It’s a real need and (donations) really do help people, because they keep coming back for food, often bringing a neighbor who is without food,” said Gunnum, who is based in East Chicago.
She continued, “With the cost of food going up as much as it has, it’s even greater. Three years ago, we saw 14,000 individuals served for the year. In 2023, 25,905 were served. This year, at the end of November, we’ve had 32,607 (visitors).”
Gaal hoped that in addition to the students’ efforts, businesses could become better stewards of resources.
“I think it’s sad that people are hungry and when you read that (corporate chains) throw away their bread and donuts, I think they could have used that better to not waste it,” said Gaal.
At Marquette Catholic High School, a smaller student body still managed a mighty collection of food items. Blazers set about creating a uniquely inspired structure, for which no one called “fowl.” The artistic impression of a turkey meant that the bird was complete with cans and boxes to resemble wings and legs and a food dispenser that resembled a beak.
Anthony Holt, director of student life at the Michigan City school, did a fantastic job of letting the students pour their hearts into the charitable endeavor, according to Katie Collignon, principal.
“I think this project aligns perfectly with our mission as we are a service-based school; giving back to others is one of our values,” said Collignon. “When students are able to do that in a fun way, I think that it engages students on a whole other level.”
Gunnum judged between the two participating diocesan high schools, awarding Marquette a cornucopia-inspired trophy, as the Blazers’ gobbler prevailed over BNI’s igloo.
“The main reason was because they followed the guidelines and used all of the food in their sculpture … and the turkey is pretty big,” Gunnum said. “But honestly, (Bishop Noll students) gave me so much food that it was ridiculous.”
Bishop Noll Institute students’ spirits were not melted, as they said they will keep in mind that the food drive contest rules stipulate the use of all of their collected items. Next year’s food sculpture could be grand, though they joked that they may not be able to replicate the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.
Gunnum said it is heartwarming to witness so many young people respond generously to help assuage hunger in Northwest Indiana. She hopes those who have not reached out to Catholic Charities would consider a donation of canned or boxed food or money.
“I’m always inspired by young people who seek the will of God and seek to do God’s work,” Gunnum said. “It’s the wind under my wings.”
For more information or to donate time, talent or treasure, email Gunnum at tgunnum@catholic-charities.org.
Caption: Bishop Noll Institute seniors (left to right) Dusan Knezevic, Gianna Gaal and Anna De La Torre inspect their food sculpture made of donations from fellow Warriors for the Catholic Charities food drive, in Hammond on Dec. 2. Catholic Charities food pantry manager Tina Gunnum praised the efforts of the teens at Bishop Noll and Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City and said the need remains strong for donations from local faithful to endeavor to fulfill the minstry's charge to feed the hungry. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)