Supporting the 11Alive/Salvation Army Can-A-Thon has been an annual school-wide tradition at Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) since 2012. This year, the GAC student body of 1,800 came together and provided 22,800 non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army.
“It is evident that GAC is a school that instills a culture of service above self. Students are educated on the needs of their community and then respond with caring and compassionate hearts. Can-A-Thon is one, out of many, examples of this,” said Captain Paul Ryerson, Salvation Army Corps Officer.
The food collected will be used in the fight against food insecurity in the Gwinnett County community and beyond to not only fill stomachs but also nourish souls.
On collection day (Dec. 1), student service and leadership groups from every GAC school level efficiently collected, counted, boxed, packed and delivered food to the Salvation Army. The GAC Concert Choir provided festive Christmas music, creating a joyful atmosphere as volunteers worked.
Throughout November, students and families rallied their efforts in varying ways to accomplish this goal. Competitions and celebrations spurred the number of food items donated to grow.
One GAC student shared more about the importance of participating.
“We work hard to have everyone participate. Individually, our cans don’t seem like much, but when it’s multiplied by everyone’s participation then it really makes an impact,” they shared.
This successful commitment to Can-A-Thon resulted from a collaborative effort across GAC to live out Christ’s call in Romans 12:13: “Feed the Hungry. Practice Hospitality.”
“The annual Can-A-Thon at GAC is about more than just food. It is an opportunity for our students to join together to help those who live and work alongside us in Gwinnett County,” Greater Atlanta Christian School President, Dr. Scott Harsh, shared.
“There is a real need to help ease the burden of hunger and food insecurity by sharing food and love with our surrounding community. Our hope as a school is that our participation instills the values of compassion, generosity, and service in our students,” he added. To see 11Alive’s Can-A-Thon news feature, visit 11alive.com/local.
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