10/09/2026
When it comes to birthday celebrations, most kids dream of toys, games, and wrapped presents. But for one thoughtful student at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Collingwood, this year’s birthday was all about giving back.
As St. Mary’s prepared for its annual Thanksgiving food drive, Grade 2 student, Monroe came up with a meaningful idea. Inside every invitation sent out for her birthday party last weekend, she included a special request: in lieu of personal gifts, guests were asked to bring non-perishable food items or donations to support the school’s collection for the local food bank.
With the help of her parents and a suggested item list provided by her school, she took all the monetary gifts she received and went shopping. She personally picked out every item—stocking up on pantry staples like canned goods, rice, and pasta.
On delivery day, Monroe arrived at school pulling a wagon filled to the brim. In total, her birthday effort brought in an impressive 200 items for community members in need.
Reflecting on her experience, Monroe shared that bringing the food into school made her feel "very happy" because she knew she was "helping other people who need food."
Her incredible gesture is a powerful example of living out the Catholic Graduate Expectations of being a Responsible Citizen and a Caring Family Member. Through simple kindness and selflessness, she demonstrated to her entire school community what the Thanksgiving spirit is truly about.
Congratulations to this amazing St. Mary’s student for turning her special day into a blessing for so many others!