Mount St. Mary Academy has most successful Robin Hood Days ever

Published November 23, 2021

Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock recently celebrated its most successful Robin Hood Days ever after curtailing activities last year because of COVID-19. The annual student-led canned food drive collected a total of 111,419 cans and cash equivalent over four weeks, shattering the previous record set in 2019 by nearly 50,000 cans.

“I cannot believe how hard these students worked to achieve and far surpass our goals,” said Noël Gieringer, MSM English teacher and student council sponsor. “After an unusual, simplified can drive last year, it was amazing to see all the new, creative ideas our students used for fundraising. Students not only brought in cans and money but also came up with events, raffles and other fun ways to encourage their classmates to give. It took the efforts of every grade level to reach this amazing milestone.”

Each class met its individual goal of 10,000 cans and cash equivalent before the drive concluded Nov. 19. The senior class, which more than quadrupled their goal, earned bragging rights by collecting the largest amount of cans: 44,365.  

“One of the things that will stick with me from my time at Mount is the spirit of giving – and friendly competition – created during Robin Hood Days,” Ellen Brady, senior and student body president, said. “I think we can all agree this is a pretty impactful four-week period when the entire student body comes together to reach a common goal in order to help the food insecurity problem within our state. This is the power of sisterhood and community.”

For nearly 50 years, Robin Hood Days has helped provide food and monetary donations to local organizations, including Arkansas Foodbank, Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock, Rice Depot, Union Rescue Mission, Jericho Way, Our House, OXFAM and Catholic Charities.

It is estimated that more than 1 million canned goods have been collected by Mount St. Mary Academy since the event began in 1974.