The Guardian Catholic Schools – St. Pius and Holy Rosary – collected Ramen Noodles to donate to Catholic Charities’ Food Pantry as part of Catholic Schools Week, Jan.31 to Feb. 5.

Students and faculty at St. Pius donated 3,770 noodle packets and students and faculty at Holy Rosary donated 3,000 noodle packets. This is a total of 6, 770 meals donated by both schools to those who are served by Catholic Charities.

Lisa Hayes, a member of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors, said the food is desperately needed and very much appreciated.

The Guardian Catholic Schools serve students in the inner-city with more than 80 percent of students coming from low-income homes. The impact they made with their donations will assist Catholic Charities in serving needy families at their food pantry throughout the year.

Catholic Charities volunteer Joe Grass came to pick up the noodles on Monday morning. He enjoyed watching the students eagerly load his truck with what they collected. He said, “They are eager to make a difference.”

Students in grades 4 to 8 wrote a speech about world hunger for the annual Guardian Catholic Schools Walsh-Seltzer speech contest and the Modern Woodmen Level 1 Speech Contest.

One eighth grader stated in his speech, “We helped contribute to stopping world hunger by donating Ramen Noodles during Catholic Schools Week. We make a difference in our community, showing that we really want to stop hunger here and throughout the world.” He added, “You can also make a difference by contacting a local agency and asking what they need donated.”