CHS/SJA meet in a “head on” challenge to help the poor

There’s nothing like issuing a challenge to “spice up” the Lenten practice of almsgiving. Catholic High School and St. Joseph Academy have found this to be true with their Challenge Season, which makes a big impact on feeding the hungry in the Greater Baton Rouge area. 

The long tradition of Challenge Season begins with a week-long canned food drive for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank (GBRFB), which this year is March 4–8, and culminates on March 22 in a fun Challenge Day filled with Olympic–style games on CHS athletic field turf.  The schools earn points for the winning various Challenge Day competitions.

The much-anticipated part of the day is the announcement of the points earned by each school from Can Week collections, revealing how many pounds of cans were collected in addition to monetary donations. These points are often the deciding factor on which school takes home the coveted trophy each year.

Additionally, the winning school’s student council president and vice president get to “pie” the losing school’s student council president and vice-president. 

Going into the 2021 challenge, the schools were tied in the series at seven wins each. For the past two years, the Redstickers have been victorious over the Bears and are looking for a “threepeat” to claim the title again this year. Undaunted, the Bears say they are re-grouping and will claim the trophy this year. 

Each school has a goal of collecting 22 pounds of cans per student.  

Last year, Catholic High fell short of their goal of raising 22 pounds per student but is setting the bar high this year to meet and surpass it. 



“The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are a huge force of philanthropy in the community,” said CHS Student Council member Benjamin Bailey, who noted that the Bears are state champions. “This year we're coming back with force so that their charism is alive. Our goal is to prove to the community that Catholic is still that force of charity.”  

SJA’S theme for Challenge Season this year is EMSJA (EMS combined with SJA), said SJA Student Council member Olivia Funes.  

“The slogan of our can drive is ‘Saving Lives, One Can at a Time,’” Funes said. 

The CHS theme is “Bears in Black” (from the title of the movie “Men in Black”).  

At CHS cans can be brought to the science buidling or dropped off during morning carpool. At SJA cans can be brought to the front office. The donations are stored in portable storage units before being brought to the GBRFB. Those who are unable to bring cans can make monetary donations. 

There is a lot of hard work, organization, and motivating each other during the food drive week. 

But the SJA/CHS students agree that the effort is worth it to help those in need, and they bond in the process. 

“Because this is the Lent season, you are asked to give something up like Jesus and how he was able to sacrifice. We are called to sacrifice because he sacrificed,” said SJA Student Council member Clare Valluzzo. 

Jack Mosley, CHS Student Council President said, “We’re all called to help our brothers and sisters and to serve the less fortunate, so it’s our duty and responsibility to do the best we can to answer the call."



Last year SJA collected 33,450 pounds of food during the weeklong Can Drive. Coupled with $543 in monetary donations, SJA helped provide 29, 504 meals. CHS collected 13,260 pounds of food and $1,381 in monetary donations, resulting in 15,193 meals. 

“It’s one of the largest food drives we have in our whole year, and it’s unique in that it comes from two schools,” said Manning. “When you have two of our largest schools and the families of those students participating ... it’s a unique opportunity to bring all of that into focus on those facing food insecurity in the community.” 

Manning noted that the students are not only using their skills to promote the event, but bringing in their school spirit. To see that kind of impact on providing food for others is reassuring. 

And the timing of the challenge during Lent is especially beneficial, said Manning. 

“Lent is a time when we have a lot of food drives, and we really need it. This year we are looking at some substantial food shortages and reductions. We’re looking at having to buy more food because it’s going to be more expensive.  

“The Lenten season helps us to ‘build a bridge’ and get through summer, which is the lowest time for us from a donation perspective until we can bet back to the fall when donations start coming back in when people start thinking about Thanksgiving.” 

To donate during Can Week on behalf of CHS, visit catholichigh.org/canweek. To donate on behalf of SJA, visit brfoodbank.org/?form=SJA.