Annual Wheeling Central Food Drive Is This Week

Photo by Joselyn King

WHEELING - For 55 years now, Wheeling Central Catholic High School students and staff have collected food items during the holidays to help make a merry Christmas for those in need.

In some cases, the former students who once helped collect items have returned as volunteers, or have jobs as current school staff.

The tradition continued Tuesday as Amy Phillips and A.J. Bucon - both Central graduates and educators at the school - on Tuesday led students through Wheeling area neighborhoods as they distributed shopping bags to homes.

Residents are encouraged to fill the bag with non-perishable food items, and set them out for pickup by students and volunteers on Saturday.

Those wanting to participate who did not receive a bag should contact the school at 304-233-1660. If the bag is not picked up by 1 p.m. on Saturday, they should also call the school and someone will be sent for the donation, said Phillips and Bucon.

Items collected by Central equal about a fifth of the items distributed by the Diocese during Christmas time, Bucon said.

"This is the largest continuous food donation drive for Catholic Charities each year," Phillips continued. "The Wheeling Central motto is 'think and act like Christ.' It is a good way for our students to serve the community."

Bucon added that for the students, the collection drive "is an experience that will last a lifetime."

"It's a Central tradition they can feel good about," he said.

Tuesday was a school-wide service day at Central. Throughout the day, teachers took classes out into neighborhoods to distribute the paper bags.

On Saturday, the area in front of Wheeling Central Catholic High School will serve as a drop-off point for some of our volunteers. The items will be sorted and counted there before being transported to the 18th Street Center.