Members of the CLass of 1983 participating in the kickoff of the 2014 Thanksgiving Drive are, from left, Mike Prados, Rene Alvarez, David Holmes, Greg Ernst, and Jay Combe.

David Martin ’83 stood in front of the morning gathering of 1,413 Blue Jays and told them, “It’s a beautiful cool, breezy morning in November here at Jesuit, and that reminds us that the Thanksgiving Drive is upon us.” As the representative of the Class of 1983, which provides a turkey for every family being fed (more than 450 this year), Martin kicked off the 2014 Thanksgiving Drive by appealing to the assembled students to consider those people in our city who are less fortunate than they are. “What will your ‘thing’ be? What will your legacy be as a student body, a class, a homeroom, an individual? I challenge you to consider service to others as your ‘thing,’ your legacy.”

At least since 1927, Blue Jays have annually taken it upon themselves to provide a Thanksgiving basket to needy families in the Jesuit neighborhood and throughout the city. Homerooms marshal themselves into groups dedicated to communicating with their adopted families, gathering food items, collecting donations to purchase perishables, shopping for these items at Robert’s on the morning of the drive (Nov. 26), assembling the baskets, and finally delivering the baskets to the families.

Service projects director Kevin Murphy ’00 oversees the drive, providing each homeroom with contact information of 3-5 needy families. After a prayer service on the morning of the drive in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, Blue Jays disperse throughout the city to brighten the lives of many New Orleanians, if only for just a day.

“Don’t do it to make yourself feel better,” Martin told the Blue Jays. “Don’t do it expecting a ‘thank you.’ Do it with humility and A.M.D.G., for the greater glory of God.”

Alumni Donate to Thanksgiving Drive

Class leaders ask alumni to donate online to the school’s Thanksgiving Drive.