Jesuit High School of New Orleans

Alumni Come Together to Support Thanksgiving Drive

Posted November 21, 2012 / Last updated February 24, 2016

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Thanksgiving Drive alumni volunteers: (First row, from left) Rob Stevens ’04, John Ecuyer ’83, Stephen Combes ’04, Hank Ecuyer ’51, Steve Barbier ’72, Mike Lavie ’80, Tommy Barbier ’84, and Jesuit Alumni Director Mat Grau ’68. (Second row, from left) Mat Grau III ’92, John Combes ’73, Tim Fitzpatrick ’82, John Laughlin ’80, William Stoudt ’07, Bro. Billy Dardis ’58, and Bob Stevens ’74.

Thanksgiving Drive alumni volunteers: (First row, from left) Rob Stevens ’04, John Ecuyer ’83, Stephen Combes ’04, Hank Ecuyer ’51, Steve Barbier ’72, Mike Lavie ’80, Tommy Barbier ’84, and Jesuit Alumni Director Mat Grau ’68. (Second row, from left) Mat Grau III ’92, John Combes ’73, Tim Fitzpatrick ’82, John Laughlin ’80, William Stoudt ’07, Bro. Billy Dardis ’58, and Bob Stevens ’74.

Living their motto of “Men for Others,” alumni joined today’s students at Jesuit High School  to distribute Thanksgiving food baskets to over 400 needy families throughout New Orleans during Jesuit’s annual Thanksgiving drive. Alumni returned to their alma mater, bringing their families with them, to take part in the drive.

Class leaders coordinated their fellow alumni to purchase, package, and deliver food items during this annual event.

  • Each year, alumni from the Class of 1983 coordinate alumni participation in Jesuit’s traditional Thanksgiving drive. The Class of ’83, known fondly as the Turkey Class, purchased several hundred big birds for students to include in baskets.
  • The Class of 1987 coordinated a fundraising effort to further the success of the Thanksgiving Drive for years to come.
  • The Class of 2007 also supported the drive by sponsoring 10 families.

On Tuesday before Thanksgiving, alumni volunteers unloaded a truck-full of perishable and canned foods for the baskets. Members of the Class of ’83 delivered frozen turkeys to campus on Tuesday evening, while other alumni and their families gathered in the Student Commons to organize and load up Thanksgiving baskets.

On Wednesday morning, Blue Jay alumni returned to Carrollton and Banks to load  baskets and help with deliveries to the families who would not otherwise enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Alumni director Mat Grau ’68 thanked all the volunteers for their support of the drive.

The annual Thanksgiving Drive has been conducted by the students of Jesuit since the 1930s, and possibly earlier. It is organized and executed by the students under the guidance of Helen Swan, director of the school’s Service Projects Program.

Thanksgiving Drive Photo Galleries

Alumni, Nov. 20-21, 2012

Prayer Service, Nov. 21, 2012

Galleries

Thanksgiving Drive, Alumni, Nov. 20-21, 2012

  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_015
    Jesuit alumni gather in Traditions Courtyard on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 20 for a group photo before the work begins to help serve 435 needy families with Thanksgiving baskets. Pictured are: (First row, from left) Rob Stevens ’04, John Ecuyer ’83, Stephen Combes ’04, Hank Ecuyer ’51, Steve Barbier ’72, Mike Lavie ’80, Tommy Barbier ’84, and Jesuit Alumni Director Mat Grau ’68. (Second row, from left) Mat Grau III ’92, John Combes ’73, Tim Fitzpatrick ’82, John Laughlin ’80, William Stoudt ’07, Bro. Billy Dardis ’58, and Bob Stevens ’74.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_002
    Alumni unload a truck filled with perishable and canned foods for the Thanksgiving Drive basket preparations that took place Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_005
    Rob Stevens ’04 starts a pile of yams on a hand truck ...
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_006
    ... and Bob Stevens ’74 adds another on top.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_011
    The truck, filled with carrots, onions, and other traditional Thanksgiving meal ingredients took more than an hour to unload.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_013
    William Stoudt ’07 continues to unload boxes of Washington apples from the truck.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web1_016
    Tuesday evening members of the Class of 1983 begin to unload frozen turkeys.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web1_018
    Sporting a holiday smile, Bro. Dardis ’58 directs traffic as alumni head toward the freezers to store the turkeys until the baskets are ready to be delivered on Wednesday.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web1_020
    Members of The Turkey Class of 1983 live up to their nickname as they provide more than 400 turkeys, one for each basket delivered.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_022
    Alumni and their famililes gather in the Student Commons on Tuesday evening to organize ....
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_023
    ... and load up Thanksgiving baskets.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_024
    Alumni of all ages bring their families to join in Blue Jay Spirit ...
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_025
    ... and come together for a meaningful common cause.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_026
    With an appreciative Helen Swan (left) looking on, Mat Grau ’68 thanks all the volunteers and shares some of the history of Jesuit’s Thanksgiving Drive. Mrs. Swan, who coordinates with recipients, oversees service project work for Jesuit.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121120_alumni_web_027
    John McMahon ’87 explains how his class has coordinated an effort to further the success of the Thanksgiving Drive for years to come.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121121_pack-deliver_alumni_web_016
    John Combes ’73 (right) and his son Stephen ’04 help deliver baskets for grateful families who will enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.
  • thanksgivingdrive_20121121_pack-deliver_alumni_web_017
    On Wednesday morning, Eric Derbes ’83 returns to Carrollton and Banks with other alumni to load up baskets. Eric's son Scott ’16 (not pictured) joined his father in the Commons.