Turkey Drive Benefits CFBNJ

Everyone who participated in the Academy of the Holy Angels’ Turkey Drive helped the Community FoodBank of New Jersey provide healthy, nutritious Thanksgiving meals for people in need. Campus Minister Maryanne Miloscia organizes this annual activity, and the AHA community responds to the call to serve others. This year’s drive netted 43 turkeys.

“Our hope is that students realize that families in our own communities face food insecurity, sometimes because a parent lost a job or is underemployed,” Miloscia said. “It could be a neighbor or someone they might not expect who faces food insecurity. We want students to be able to see AHA as a community and reach out to the global community when they graduate.”

CFBNJ’s Keith Owens accepted turkeys at both the upper school and middle school. He is a familiar visitor to AHA, where he has been picking up the frozen birds for the past 13 years. He says that picking up and delivering the turkeys are two of his favorite responsibilities.

Holy Angels and CFBNJ share an ongoing connection that includes multiple events and activities throughout the year. Students regularly attend CFBNJ’s Teen Hunger Summit and assist with the organization’s Global Youth Service Day. In addition, Angels volunteer at CFBNJ on AHA Service Day each spring, and educate others about food insecurity and how events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, impact hunger in New Jersey. Angels also participate in CFBNJ’s Teen Leadership Council and Teen Advisory Committee. The committee is a leadership group for the ninth and tenth grades.

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious school serves young women from many cultural and religious backgrounds.