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PORTLAND — Part of the mission of Maine Catholic schools is to accentuate the importance of service with the hope of building a lifelong commitment and appreciation in each student to give back to those in need.
During Catholic Schools Week Feb. 8-12, that lesson was on full display at schools across Maine, including those in the Turner Publishing circulation area.
St. Dominic Academy, Lewiston/Auburn — At the St. Dom’s campus in Auburn (Grades 6-12), students collected toiletries for those staying at homeless shelters; constructed bookshelves for the Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston, which provides food and shelter to those in need; built birdfeeders for area nursing homes; designed coffee mugs and face mask extenders for caregivers at St. Mary’s Urgent Care in Auburn; and made fleece blankets for the animals at the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society. At the Lewiston campus, students collected items for patients at Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice as well as family members who might be staying with loved ones.
“Community service at St. Dom’s gives us an opportunity to get out and put others first,” said senior Lauren Theriault. “It is important to take time away from academics and sports and clubs and do something for other people.”
St. John’s Catholic School, Brunswick — Students, teachers, and staff participated in a food collection contest between classrooms with all proceeds benefitting the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. The school traditionally donates well over 2,000 pounds of food to the program each year, helping hundreds of local families in the process. Last week alone, the school donated nearly 800 pounds of food.
St. Michael School, Augusta — The students at St. Michael School collected hundreds of school supplies for refugee children in Maine that are served by Catholic Charities Maine’s Refugee and Immigration Services. Each grade was assigned different items to donate like crayons, books, toys, construction paper, chalk, erasers, water bottles, calculators, binders, pencil cases, folders, and markers.
“In completing the service projects, the students are learning service to others while demonstrating the values and faith they are getting in a Catholic education,” said Kevin Cullen. “To see the children so excited to give back is beautiful. They did a fantastic job, as always. I’m very proud of them.”
Mount Merici Academy, Waterville — The academy hosted a donation drive to help those in need at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter by collecting tissues, toilet paper, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, and socks. The items were used to assemble personal care kits for shelter residents.
