St. Patrick's students won't be canvassing the city for canned food donations this year.
The high school's 37th annual Irish Miracle is being held virtually to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Typically, hundreds of students and staff collect thousands of bags of food for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
School Chaplin Ann Clarke said they're asking residents to donate money online instead.
"The food that's collected during the Irish Miracle event is used to provide food in Christmas hampers for hundreds of families, upwards of 1,000," said Clarke. "In addition to that, the Irish Miracle stocks the shelves at the St. Vincent de Paul Help Centre basically from January to April."
Clarke said it was a difficult decision to modify the annual fundraiser.
"Around about Thanksgiving, the team here at St. Pat's gathered to talk about what would be possible," she said. "With all of the things happening for safety reasons, together with the unknown of the future and whether we'd be in class, we realized that it could not happen the way that it has in the past."
Clarke said it's difficult to set a fundraising target because of the unique nature of the event.
The virtual Irish Miracle is scheduled for November 27 to December 18.
You can donate online at www.ssvpsarnia.ca.