Titan Academy Students Lead Holiday Canned Food Drive

Students at Trinity Basin Preparatory’s Titan Academy stepped up this holiday season to support families in need through a student-led canned food drive rooted in leadership, service, and compassion.

The idea for the drive emerged during a Student Council meeting and quickly gained momentum when the school’s sophomore officers took ownership of the project. “I wanted to do the canned food drive to be able to give people food who aren’t able to make it,” said Jayden Salas, 10th grade Student Council President. “It was also a way to give back to the community, which has personally helped me when things have gotten tough.”

The Student Council leadership team—President Jayden Salas, Vice President Savannah Welty, Secretary Eli Thomas, Treasurer Olivia Tucker, and Historian Isabella Burns—decided to move forward with the effort even though the National Honor Society had not yet secured a sponsor. “Especially coming up to the Christmas season, I thought about all of the families that don’t have enough food,” said Thomas. “What better way than to have the school give back to our community?”

Students across both middle and high school campuses were encouraged to participate by bringing canned goods to high school class sponsors and to middle school teachers who volunteered to collect donations. The drive emphasized generosity during the holiday season, with a friendly competition and a free dress day offered to the middle school and high school classes that collected the most cans.

For many students, the effort was personal. “The holidays have really had me thinking about those who aren’t given the opportunities I was,” said Welty. “I really hope people can benefit from this.” Tucker added, “I have always wanted to help people in need, and I’m glad to see the school helping and bringing what it can. I hope we can do this more in the future.”

The food collected will first be offered to Titan families in need, with remaining donations going to West Aide, a local food pantry serving families in the White Settlement area. The impact of the drive was felt beyond students as well. “As someone who has dealt with food insecurity in the past, this is important to me,” shared Kacy Sosa, a 6th grade parent.

Staff members praised the students’ leadership and commitment to service. “When we decided to plan this food drive, my goal was to help the families that make Titan Academy and Trinity Basin great,” said Jonathan Walker, Social Studies teacher at Titan Academy. “There is a lot of need in this community, and I was ecstatic that my students could help those around us.”

The canned food drive reflects Trinity Basin Preparatory’s continued focus on student leadership, community service, and supporting families both within the district and beyond.