A message from the Salesian Studies Office:

For over 30 years, Visitation Campus Ministry has collected food for families in the North Minneapolis area who are in need of assistance during the holiday season. “Turkey Tuesday” has become a Vis tradition, as each year we have collected bins full of turkeys to be distributed with overflowing boxes of food. 

This year, we will be combining our two types of collections to best meet the needs of the people we are serving. The Visitation sisters have asked us to collect gift cards to help families and individuals in need. People on the north side are feeling the effects of the current economy, with high unemployment and rising prices for food and housing. Many families have to choose between putting food on the table and buying warm clothing for their children. This is where we can help.

We are inviting anyone who is able to donate $25 Cub Foods gift cards. This store and the dollar amount were specifically requested by the sisters as the most helpful for people in their neighborhood. Cash or checks are also welcome and $25 gift cards will be purchased with whatever we receive.

In addition, we will be asking each homeroom in the upper school to prepare a family box with a variety of foods, including a 12 pound turkey and a roasting pan, to be distributed to 25 families specially identified by the sisters. These “baskets” will be distributed by our students on Turkey Tuesday, November 22nd. (Gift cards will be distributed by the Sisters with help from Vis students on Wednesday, November 23.)

Donations may be dropped off at any time with homeroom teachers (please label for “Campus Ministry”) or can be brought directly to the Campus Ministry office. In order to match what we typically give in food donations, we have set a goal of collecting $7500.00 in gift cards + the 25 boxes. We recognize that everyone is affected by the economy and invite each to help as you are able. Thank you in advance for your generous donations.

In addition, our all school Out of Uniform day on Friday, November 17, will support the Thanksgiving gift card collection for North Minneapolis.

Please reach out to Claire Kranz, Director of Salesian Studies, if you have any questions at ckranz@vischool.org or 651.683.1734.