During this season of giving, we are pleased to highlight folks in our area who give their time, energy and resources to those in need. Cardinal O’Hara High School (COHS) student Justin O’Shea is combating hunger in our community and beyond by launching a food drive. Thanks to Justin’s efforts he was able to collect over 1,000 donations by mid-November.
Justin said that on trips into Philadelphia with his family he noticed many homeless people and it just didn’t seem fair. “I wanted to do something that could really help,” Justin shared. Inspired to make a difference, Justin had the idea to start a food collection last Spring. He began by asking local businesses and supermarkets for help and in the fall, he enlisted the help of his peers. Justin approached his school principal Eileen Murphy, assistant principal Andrea Devenney and COHS President Mike Connor and proposed organizing a food drive. Word spread quickly throughout the school and in just a few weeks, students began donating non-perishable items, such as canned goods, pasta, rice and cereal.
A sophomore at COHS, Justin grew up in Broomall with his parents and two siblings and attended St. Pius X for grade school. He has managed to balance his studies and his school activities like cross country and student council with his commitment to the food drive. “Justin truly lives by the values of faith, community and service in everything he does,” said his parents Jim and Susan. “We are very proud of Justin’s commitment to service and his efforts to combat hunger.”
Justin’s genuine passion has sparked a ripple effect, encouraging other COHS students to donate. “He is a remarkable young man and we are so proud of his commitment to serving the community,” said Principal Murphy. “It is a great reminder of the positive impact all students can and should have. We are so grateful to everyone who supported Justin.”
To make the food drive successful, Justin asked each of his high school peers to bring two donations to school. Boxes for collections were located conveniently outside the school. Local stores also donated several cases of canned vegetables, gift cards and members of the community brought food donations to St. Pius X Church. Members of the community also made generous monetary donations to purchase food.
For Justin the goal was 1,000 cans. By November 8th, he had exceeded his goal. Overwhelmed by the community’s generosity, Justin plans to donate the food to several different charities including St.Pius X and St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic organization that helps the homeless. “Every little bit counts,” Justin added. “If we all pitch in, we can make a big difference.”