By Josh Galvin ’13
THE ROUNDUP
The end of the second semester marks the closing of another year of community service.
As in previous years, a multitude of drives occurred on campus throughout the school term, each benefitting a specific segment of the population.
One major drive early in the year, the Turkey Drive, provided Thanksgiving dinners for 1,625 underprivileged Arizona families. Classes and clubs donated dry goods and money to charitable organizations such as St. Mary’s Food Bank, St. Joseph the Worker and St. Vincent de Paul Foundation.
Another big drive in which the campus partakes is the ELF Drive (Extending Love to Families). According to the drive’s coordinator Mr. Tommy Smith, 328 people received Christmas gifts this year through students’ donations in conjunction with the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities.
In the spring, the Rice Bowl Lenten Drive began on Ash Wednesday, March 9 and continued through April 15.
Each class collected money as part of a school wide competition to provide financial aid to impoverished families.
Although the drives that offer class prizes often generate the most interest on campus, the less publicized organizations provide just as much support for the community.
For example, the Brophy Blanket Drive held Oct. 29-31 by the Phoenix Rescue Mission gathered blankets and clothing items for homeless shelters throughout Arizona.
Additionally, the Friends of the Orphans Drive held through Dec. 13 sent clothes to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a Guatemalan orphanage where Brophy students volunteer during annual immersion trips.
Other drives were organized by Brophy’s many clubs, including National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.
According to NHS club leader Mr. Fred Garner, 65 potential donors enlisted in the fall blood drive for United Blood Services Oct. 6.
Their donations contributed to 56 procedures for those in need.
“(The blood donations) were greatly appreciated and went a long way toward assuring a strong blood supply, and ultimately saving lives,” said UBS Donor recruitment representative Tom Bryson in an e-mail.
