Guelph School Food Drive: Two Rivers SS Launches Inaugural Thanksgiving Campaign
Written by Chloe Bennett • Published October 13, 2026 • Last verified October 14, 2026
What you need to know:
Two Rivers Secondary School (opened September 2026 at 388 Arkell Road) held its inaugural Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Organized by Grade 10 Leadership students, the initiative collected shelf-stable staples for local community members in need.
School-based drives provide vital support for regional food supply networks ahead of winter demand increases.
Year-round community food donations can be dropped off directly at the Guelph Food Bank warehouse at 100 Crimea Street.
Monetary donations to local food relief organizations stretch further because charitable partners purchase food wholesale in bulk.
Guelph's newest secondary school community stepped forward this autumn to tackle food insecurity across the city. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, students at **Two Rivers Secondary School** organized the school's inaugural Thanksgiving Food Drive, collecting non-perishable food items to support local families in need.
**Two Rivers Secondary School: Guelph's Newest High School** Two Rivers Secondary School opened its doors in September 2026 at **388 Arkell Road** in south Guelph. Constructed by the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) to serve the city's rapidly growing south-end neighbourhoods, the school launched with initial Grade 9 and Grade 10 student cohorts, with higher grades expanding in successive academic years. The autumn food drive, coordinated by Grade 10 student leadership classes, marked the young school's first major community service initiative.
**The Role of School Drives in Guelph** Autumn school food drives represent a crucial component of local charitable relief. October marks the beginning of higher seasonal living expenses, when cooler weather increases household utility bills and post-harvest fresh food costs rise. Campaigns run across UGDSB and Wellington Catholic schools channel thousands of pounds of shelf-stable staples directly into local emergency pantry networks.
Essential items gathered during these campaigns include: - Protein staples: canned tuna, salmon, peanut butter, canned beans, and stews. - Family essentials: baby formula, diapers, whole-grain cereals, pasta, and tomato sauces. - Personal care items: hygiene products, soaps, and dental supplies.
**How Residents Can Support Ongoing Relief** While school-based collection drives run within specific academic schedules during school hours, food insecurity continues throughout the year. Community members who wish to support local hunger relief efforts have several direct avenues: 1. **The Guelph Food Bank:** Located at **100 Crimea Street**, the food bank accepts non-perishable donations during regular warehouse operating hours Monday through Friday. 2. **Financial Contributions:** Monetary donations stretch significantly further than retail grocery purchases. Because registered food bank charities purchase bulk staples wholesale from distribution partners, every donated dollar can acquire two to three times the nutritional volume of standard consumer purchases. 3. **Neighbourhood Pantries & Community Drives:** Many local community centres and faith organizations maintain localized food distribution hampers that welcome unopened, non-perishable goods year-round.
The initiative shown by Two Rivers Secondary School students demonstrates the vital role youth civic engagement plays in building a caring, resilient Royal City.
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