NDP Partners with IND Alumnae to Keep Thanksgiving Food Drive Alive

For the third consecutive year, the spirit of sisterhood and service bridged the gap between past and present as Notre Dame Prep’s Junior Humanities class partnered with the Institute of Notre Dame Alumnae Association. Together, they continued the long-standing "Hildie’s Thanksgiving Dinner Drive," preparing and loading meal boxes for the residents of LaTrobe Homes through Johnston Square Elementary.

A cherished tradition that began in the 1940s at the Institute of Notre Dame (IND), this annual food drive ensures that families living in the communities around the former IND campus on North Aisquith Street have a meal to share during the holiday. When IND closed its doors in 2020, the Alumnae Association was determined to keep the initiative alive and sought a partner school to help host the event. This marks the third year the drive has found a home at NDP, reaffirming the deep connection both communities share through the School Sisters of Notre Dame mission.

"Our school may have closed, but our IND spirit carries on," said Mary Pat Moulder, the IND Alumnae Association representative who coordinates the effort. The partnership provided a meaningful opportunity for NDP students to engage with that spirit directly. While the juniors helped load the meal boxes and connected with the INDAA members leading the tradition, students in our Middle Level also played a vital role. Weeks before the drive, our 7th grade students created festive artwork for the meal boxes during their class retreat, ensuring every package was delivered with a personal touch of care. Through this collaboration, the legacy of IND’s service to Baltimore continues to thrive, uniting generations of women in support of their neighbors.