As part of a school Lenten project, fifth-grade students at
St. Leo the Great School in Fairfax collected baby items for
Divine Mercy Care in Fairfax. DMC is a “nonprofit healthcare
organization that is on a mission to ‘Transform Hearts
Through Healthcare.'” DMC provides faith-based medical
services to women through the Tepeyac Family Center in
Fairfax.
The baby product project was part of a larger Lenten effort
that would define student spiritual activities for Lent like
prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The effort was organized by
fifth-grade teacher Mary Byczek. Ten activities were chosen
and were listed on student-made construction paper crosses.
As promises were fulfilled, a star was placed by the promise
on the student’s cross, “to make them visually aware of what
was accomplished,” Byczek said.
The DMC baby effort collected about 350 items including
onesies, diapers, blankets and bottles. Byczek’s classroom
was the storage area for the boxes until delivery to the DMC
office last week.
To add a personal touch to the storage boxes, student
decorated them. On one box, “Welcome to the world little
ones, light of God” was written with colored pencil.
The students worked with their parents to collect the money
to buy the baby products. Some students earned money by doing
chores around the house; others borrowed money from their
savings. Frequently parents matched their child’s
contribution. Parents and students went to local stores to
buy the supplies.
On March 25, both fifth-grade classes crowded into Byczek’s
room to hear Principal David DiPippa thank the students for
their efforts. One by one, students shared their sacrifices
and what their efforts meant to make life for a newborn more
comfortable..
“If you do good things it will come back to you,” said
Katherine Burkhart.
Rachel Sloboda said, “I used my birthday money and (my
family) matched it.”
Sofia Tejada went to T.J. Maxx and bought shoes and onesies,
she said.
In a moment of evangelization, one girl said her mother never
heard of Tepeyac Family Center.
“I had to explain it to her,” she said.
The students were asked to evaluate their Lenten project
experience .
“Many of them saw it as an agreement between them and God,”
said Byczek. Some wrote that it made them more aware of Lent
and what else to do besides giving something up.”
Byczek said the evaluations showed that students enjoyed
praying for the DMC babies and buying them gifts.
“I love this Lent activity,” Byczek added. “It even
challenges me to do more for my students and makes me more
accountable, too, in this holy season.”
