Gilmour Academy Students Gather Food Donations for 320 Families

On November 26th, the first morning of Thanksgiving break, students, faculty, staff, and community members at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, came together to distribute over 320 Thanksgiving meals to local families in need.

This initiative was part of the 32nd annual Brother Richard Keller Thanksgiving Food Drive, named in honor of a longtime Gilmour staff member and dedicated volunteer. For several weeks leading up to this event, students from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools collected food donations, which were then used to fill baskets with complete Thanksgiving dinners.

At approximately 7:45 a.m., the assembled baskets were loaded into cars for home delivery by members of the Gilmour community. Additionally, some baskets were loaded onto a bus, which was manned by more Gilmour volunteers, who distributed meals at the St.

Patrick's Hunger Center in Cleveland. Whitney Daly, Gilmour's Director of Mission Integration, who has been involved with the drive for 19 years, expressed pride in the collective effort, stating that this project embodies the Holy Cross mission to demonstrate hospitality to those in need.

Daly praised the commitment shown by the entire school community, from Montessori toddlers to high school seniors, and highlighted the collaborative spirit that made this year’s drive a success. Thanks to their hard work, Gilmour Academy was able to provide essential support to more than 320 families during the holiday season, reinforcing the importance of giving back and addressing food insecurity in the local community.

According to Cleveland.com, this initiative not only brings meals to families but also fosters a sense of community and compassion among students and faculty alike.