GOAL Club Leads Powerful Food Drive to Support Families Ahead of Thanksgiving

At Saint Croix Preparatory Academy, leadership isn’t just talked about, it’s lived. And this year, the Girls of Active Leadership (GOAL) Club proved exactly what it means to turn compassion into action.

Founded in 2022 by former SCPA student Anjou Thao, the GOAL Club continues to thrive under the leadership of four remarkable young women: Tanjua (TJ) Thao, Claudia Biehn, Kate Davis, and Siena Brown. Together, these students set out to make an impact that reflected their club’s core mission: leading with purpose.

A Leadership Conversation That Sparked a Movement

The idea for a schoolwide food drive began as a simple discussion about leadership, what it truly means, and how it differs from service. The GOAL leaders made one thing clear: they wanted to take on a project that mattered, something that addressed a real need within their community.

Around the same time, the national news was filled with concerns about a potential government shutdown and the pausing of SNAP benefits. The GOAL leaders sought out more information, eager to better understand food insecurity and how it affects families. After learning more, they knew exactly what they wanted to do: launch a food drive to support local food banks during one of the toughest times of the year.

There was just one challenge, they had one week to make it happen.

A One-Week Mission With a Thanksgiving Deadline

With Thanksgiving approaching and food banks under increased strain, the GOAL Club set a bold timeline. The drive launched Monday, November 17, and ran through Tuesday, November 25—guaranteeing that donations would reach families before the holiday.

To make giving as easy as possible, GOAL members stood outside the school each morning during drop-off for 45 minutes, collecting donations directly from cars and families walking in. This daily visibility brought energy and excitement to the effort, especially on the final day, when Leo the Lion, the school mascot, joined in to greet students and thank donors.

Younger students loved it. Families loved it. And the donations started pouring in.

An Operation Run With Heart—and Precision

Each morning, GOAL members followed a seamless process:

• Collect donations outside

• Bring items indoors for sorting

• Check expiration dates

• Categorize and weigh items

• Record donations and pack boxes

All of this happened before school, with students taking ownership of every task. For those who couldn’t make mornings, they helped by designing signs, sorting donations during study halls, and cleaning up when the drive ended.

The communication team amplified the effort daily, sharing totals with the community. To make the numbers meaningful for all ages—especially younger students—the GOAL advisor paired each day’s poundage with the size of an animal or the number of families it could feed, turning data into excitement and pride.

A Goal of 1,000 Pounds—CRUSHED!

Across just seven school days, the GOAL Club collected:

• Nearly 500 pounds on their highest day

• An average of 200 pounds per day

• Over 1,300 pounds total

What began as a 500-pound goal quickly doubled. But the GOAL Club had bigger plans and they delivered.

As the group proudly declared:
GOAL: 1,000 pounds – CRUSHED IT!

Delivering Hope to Multiple Communities

On the final day—amid holiday chaos and an impending snowstorm, the team mobilized once again. With help from parent volunteers, principals, and the school’s Executive Director, donations were delivered to two food banks:

• Open Cupboard in Oakdale, MN

• Valley Outreach in Stillwater, MN

Three cars packed full of boxes rolled up to Valley Outreach, where staff were thrilled to receive such a meaningful contribution.

The GOAL leaders had intentionally chosen two food banks, recognizing that SCPA draws students from several towns. Their goal was to support as many families in their broader community as possible—and they did exactly that.

The Power of Student-Led Leadership

This food drive was not just a collection, it was a masterclass in youth leadership. From organizing supplies to tracking data, rallying younger students, coordinating volunteers, and handling logistics, these young women built and executed a complex project in record time.

Their work was supported by an entire school community—parents, custodial staff, communication teams, and administrators—but the vision and drive came from GOAL.

And the impact? Tremendous.

The GOAL Club demonstrated what happens when students take ownership, lead boldly, and care deeply. Their food drive supported families, strengthened community bonds, and inspired younger students to get involved.

Most of all, it showed that leadership is not about age or title, it’s about action.

Congratulations to the GOAL Club on an extraordinary achievement and for uplifting the entire Saint Croix Prep community through service and heart.