The week of February 1-5 our seniors had the opportunity to engage in service projects throughout the St. Louis community. Monday began with a day of celebrating our seniors with their Countdown to Graduation followed by their Class Diversity Day. The afternoon offered an orientation to prepare them for their days of service. The weather proved to be challenging and they were unable to serve on Tuesday and Wednesday. They did, however, make the most of Thursday and each senior spent the day serving two agencies- one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Our students spent time at St. Louis Area Food Bank, St. Louis Diaper Bank, Lydia’s House, Feed My People in High Ridge and South County, Metrovision Ministries, St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Stores in Ballwin, Fenton, Lemay Ferry, and Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Some students were at Ursuline Academy completing projects for various agencies such as The Little Bit Foundation, Alternative Hospice, Boulevard Senior Living, St. Vincent DePaul Parish, Youth in Action and Ronald McDonald House.
These projects included making meal kits for families, creating diaper bundles and period supply kits for women, cleaning an apartment for a family in need, sorting and organizing donations, making hygiene kits, creating door decorations for senior citizens, making valentine cards for hospital patients, making fleece blankets and cutting out fleece hearts for hospice patients.
The entire Class of 2021 spent part of Friday gathered at UA continuing service with some of the projects listed above, as well as spending time reflecting on their experience through written reflection and group sharing. The week, though shortened, was a powerful experience of Serviam in action.
In her reflection of the week, Kiera Dunne ’21 wrote, “This week’s service experience was actually quite amazing. I didn’t think that the one day I got to do service could be this impactful. I had the special privilege of being able to make the hygiene bags in the morning for my first service opportunity. Then I was able to actually bring them to The Little Bit Foundation and got a tour of that facility. Last week when we were bringing items in, I had no idea the impact it could have on the community. Sure, I was doing it because I knew there were people in need, but when we actually got to see what The Little Bit Foundation was, it was so moving. I realized that even when you do the smallest act of kindness, as in bringing shampoo or conditioner, that it had such an impact on so many people’s lives.”
Members of our Ursuline community are still invited to participate in our partnership with The Little Bit Foundation through their Story Time Program, and through our shift at their Mobile Food Market, on Wed. Feb. 24 from 8:15-11:00.
For more information and to sign-up, please visit our website.