St. Luke's Students Fight Child Hunger Through Community Partnerships

St. Luke's Episcopal School has strengthened its partnership with the Three O'Clock Project, a South Louisiana nonprofit tackling child hunger. Through food drives, meal packaging, and volunteer efforts, students and families have contributed significantly to the organisation's mission.

The collaboration aims to teach young people about community needs while providing practical support to local families. In October 2022, St. Luke's hosted a food drive focused on dry beans and pasta. The effort collected 551 pounds of food, all donated to the Three O'Clock Project. This initiative was part of the school's broader service-learning programme.

Fifth to eighth-grade soccer players and seventh-grade students later dedicated time to package meals and assemble Thanksgiving meal kits. Their work helped ensure local families had food for the holiday. St. Luke's families also volunteered to deliver Christmas meal kits, extending their support through the festive season.

The Three O'Clock Project currently serves 460 families of four each week, totalling around 1,840 individuals. It provides meals, snacks, and educational resources at little or no cost, focusing on after-school hours and summer periods when children lack access to school meals. Executive Chef Jon Breaux highlighted the school's impact, stating the organisation would not be where it is today without St. Luke's contributions.

Brittany Guelfo, assistant head of St. Luke's, hopes these experiences help students understand their role in addressing community challenges. The partnership continues to grow, with ongoing volunteer efforts and food drives planned. The Three O'Clock Project now supports hundreds of families weekly, thanks in part to St. Luke's Episcopal School's involvement. Students gain hands-on experience in service while directly improving food access for vulnerable children. The collaboration remains a key part of both the school's curriculum and the nonprofit's operations.