Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive
This week is the Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive. One of our best HR family volunteer programs that includes the whole parish - young and old. Greg Gannon was my brother. And also Uncle and Great Uncle to all of the Garaytas and Sommers.
Greg, was a wonderful person with a heart of gold, a wonderful soul and someone you never wanted to say no to! Though Greg died in 2006 of a brain tumor, it amazes me that his passion and caring has lived on through the hard work of many others.
For those who don’t know, this great endeavor began when Greg and his wife, Maureen, wanted to teach their four young daughters about the spirit and value of giving. Every year the day after Thanksgiving, they would go through their neighborhood knocking on doors and asking for cans for the poor. And then deliver the collected cans to a local food pantry.
As a member of Blessed Sacrament, he convinced the whole parish to get involved. And over the past 36 years the food drive has expanded to many other parishes around the DC area.
Holy Redeemer was among the first parishes because Greg wanted his Garayta nieces and nephews to have the opportunity to be part of this community effort!
My favorite story is when Ginny Garayta was in 8th grade we had our first HR territory. The bags then said Blessed Sacrament Canned Food Drive. Ginny and her friend went to knock on a door in an HR neighborhood and asked “where are your cans” (something Greg insisted you do). The lady said ”it says Blessed Sacrament Canned Food Drive and we go to Holy Redeemer” the little girl said “ma’am I don’t think the poor people care where the food comes from”
My how this has grown! Greg would be proud of all the hard work that Holy Redeemer and all the other parishes have put in - collecting over 2,000,000 cans.
So when you see the bags with the yellow tags on your door step this week, please fill them and think of Greg. One man CAN make a difference.
Thank you all for helping to continue my brother Greg’s legacy.
Patti (Gannon) Garayta