Since 1989, Loyola College Prep students put their faith into action for local families in need during the holiday season. The student-led organization, Flyers Aiding the Hungry (F.Ai.T.H.), provided an additional 650 families with baskets of food today with over 58% of the student body participating in the community project. This year the F.Ai.T.H. is led by chairwomen Emma Cate Dailey, Lauren Henson and Frances Kalmbach.
“I am honored to be able to continue F.Ai.T.H.’s tradition of excellence through my role as a chairman this year,” said Kalmbach. “Through serving, I’ve been able to recognize the hard work that goes into planning something that is on as large of a scale as F.Ai.T.H. Truly, every member, officer, chairman, and sponsor plays an essential role in making F.Ai.T.H. a possibility.”
Each year F.Ai.T.H. works to provide a holiday meal for disadvantaged families in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Supported by fundraisers, donations, and basket sales, the F.Ai.T.H. organization is able to raise the more than $25,000 necessary to sponsor this event. This effort is not done by the three chairmen alone. With 65 officers and 150 members, the F.Ai.T.H. organization at Loyola College Prep works almost year-round to plan, raise money, and organize.
“This project is so much bigger than anything one person can accomplish,” said Susan Hymel, F.Ai.T.H. sponsor. “With so many people willing to put service above self, we learn that no matter who we are or how small our personal community may be, we all have the power to affect people far and wide.”
Kalmbach said everyone was most excited about watching their hard work pay off today.
“Knowing that my actions had a direct impact on making a difference in the lives of families in our community, really instills an indescribable sense of pride in me and the other chairwomen,” she said.
Since its inception, and through the partnerships with area businesses, local elementary schools and middle schools, and the generosity of our many Loyola families and alumni, F.Ai.T.H. has been able to serve over 20,000 families in our community.