Cincinnati, Ohio – October 20, 2014: Saint Ursula Academy surpirsed its students on Monday during the kickoff to the school’s mega annual Canned Food Drive. The theme for this year’s Canned Food Drive is The Amazing Race Against Hunger. To help inspire and energize the students, SUA invited alumna Megan Linz Jones '03 to be a surprise special guest at the kickoff event. Megan and her brothers won CBS’ Amazing Race and the $1-million prize in 2005.
Megan spoke to the students about the importance of working together to achive their goal, which is something she and her brothers did during their time competing in The Amazing Race. "While the winning and the attention was a lot of fun, the most important part of that experience was speding time working with my brothers and learning to depend on one antother to accomplish our goals."
In addition to her words to the students, Megan judged a canned good relay race in the gym at the assembly.
The annual Canned Food Drive has continued to grow over the years and provides a significant amount of food to the pantries it supports just before the holidays.
In 2013, the students collected more than 600 large boxes of canned food items and $1176.52 in cash. The previous year, students collected 663 boxes of food and $1030.25.
Five area food pantries have benefited from the drive each year. They include St. Vincent DePaul, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, Madisonville Education and Assistance Center, Little Sisters of the Poor, and Open Door Ministries.