St. Thomas student-athletes succeeded in their return of canvassing the Greater Fredericton area on Saturday December 10th to pick up non-perishable food items for their 2022 Tommies Food Drive.

A tradition for the Green & Gold before the Holiday season aims to help the needy in the community who face food security challenges on a daily basis.  Tommies athletes collected food donation items in the final weekends of regular season play to end the first semester, notably at a Women's Hockey game between STU and UNB, a Basketball doubleheader in a contest with the Crandall Chargers, as well as a Volleyball Doubleheader where STU faced the UNB Saint John Seawolves.

STU Student-Athlete Council co-presidents Kait Benjamin (Women's Soccer) and Caroline Pietroski (Women's Hockey) organized this year's event that saw teams head to different neighbourhoods and requesting non-perishable food items.  The goal was to collect 1000 items this year and have surpassed this goal in collecting over 1200 items.

"It was great to see all the Tommies heading out and seeing the generosity of the community at a time of need for so many," said Kait Benjamin, a 4th year midfielder from Bridgewater, NS. "Surpassing the goal was quite the achievement knowing the efforts put together by all teams to support those in need."

"It was amazing to see our Tommies Athletes come together and connect with members of our community," said Kait Benjamin, a 4th year midfielder from Bridgewater, NS. "The generosity of our community allowed us to surpassed our goal, which was a big achievement, and will allow us to help even more people in need."

After the pandemic cancelled the 2020 version of the Food Drive, in 2021 the Tommies adapted to have a drop-off at various locations across the City of Fredericton. 

Fredericton Hyundai, partner of St. Thomas Athletics, has generously donated the use of 2 Palisades to help the Tommies collect food items.

If you'd like to make a donation of non-perishable food items or gift cards, you can drop off items at the J.B. O'Keefe Fitness Centre on STU Campus (65 Dineen Drive).

Caroline Pietroski, a 4th year goaltender from Etobicoke, ON mentioned: "To be able to head out with my teammates and other Tommie student-athletes to visit so many houses and get donations was very fulfilling and we're looking forward to dropping off these items at the St. Thomas Student Food Bank and Greener Village this week."