By: Angelo Lucier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
What happens when you bring together 30 responsible, innovative, and dedicated high school students? The result is thousands of pounds of food collected to support less fortunate individuals and families across the Windsor–Essex community. This fall, the Sandwich Leadership Program once again showcased the impact motivated students can have through their annual can drive. With a noticeable increase in student participation and effort compared to previous years, the initiative achieved new levels of success, and the final total reflected the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.
The annual can drive has become a defining tradition of the leadership program, highlighting the importance of service, empathy, and community involvement. This year’s drive stood out due to careful planning and strong collaboration among students. For the first time, the can drive was expanded across the entire community, with students going door-to-door and raising even more funds from the town of LaSalle. Each small donation accumulated, demonstrating that collective effort can lead to meaningful change.
The project was led by three Grade 12 students, Cameron McLean, Brandon Mills, and Rachel Jasey, whose leadership and organization were key factors in the drive’s success. When asked how much this food drive meant to him, McLean responded “It’s a special feeling. This project taught me a lot about food insecurity and how many people in our community face it, especially during this time of year. To have organized this can drive from the ground up and seeing all of the support really shows what we’re capable of as a community.”
This food drive didn’t just help out the people in the community, but also taught the Sabre leadership students a lot of transferable skills, including cooperation and camaraderie, which McLean also commented on, saying “Seeing all these students step up and take on these tasks with the amount of heart and resilience they had was special. Not enough can be said about how awesome this school and community is, but this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the Sandwich leadership students.”
As of the publishing of this article, the students do not have a confirmed tally, but the school’s fundraising efforts are expected to demolish previous records.
Beyond the impressive amount of food collected, the can drive served as a reminder of the positive impact youth leadership can have. The initiative strengthened the connection between the school and the Windsor–Essex community while fostering a sense of responsibility and compassion among students. Through teamwork and determination, the Sandwich Leadership Program once again proved that when students come together for a common cause, they can make a lasting difference.
