Coats, cooking oil and cereal are necessities we tend to take for granted yet these items are not readily available for Buffalo’s needy families and the agencies which help them. Campus Ministry Advisement Seniors got a head start on charitable fund raising for the coming winter with two major collection events focused on these essential items.  October 27^th and November 3^rd were targeted as days to collect coats and money to fill the void.  “We help people in need all over the world with our service projects so we must help the poor right here in our own city as well” stated Senior Alexander Vilardo ’10 one of the Campus Ministry organizers.

The Channel 4 “Coats 4 Kids” project was a huge success for the Canisius Community. Students, faculty and staff donated coats, hats and gloves in such a large quantity that the staff of Colvin cleaners filled an entire “bubble” truck that was headed to their facility for processing. Alex and his fellow Seniors received  attention on the Channel 4 news that evening for their efforts.

The St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room on Main Street has been a long term service site for CHS students and faculty. When the Director informed Mr. Ron Ahrens ’91, Christian Service Director, that they were unable to stock basic cooking supplies such as vegetable oil due to rising costs he knew that Crusaders would come to their aid.  Students donated over $850 in cash to the Dining Hall which serves meals to countless needy people on a daily basis.

The annual St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy Cereal Drive has been a special project for CHS Crusaders for the past five years.  Cereal is also a food staple that is out of reach for many poor families. Mr. Ahrens has spearheaded an annual Christmas season campaign to help St. Luke’s fill their grocery bags and exceeded a goal of over two thousand boxes last year. This year St. Luke’s asked for a financial contribution from CHS  for the cereal.  Crusaders collected over $1,300 in one day which allows the Mission to use its own buying power to expand on the previous cereal totals.

These fund raising events are all in anticipation of the upcoming CHS ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE which starts on Tuesday, November 24th. Last year’s campaign netted over 5,000 pounds of supplies for the Western New York Food Bank.