Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hats for the homeless and
cards for homebound parishioners were created by students at St. Thomas More
Cathedral School in Arlington Nov. 27. They volunteered for more than 300 hours
of service at 13 sites throughout the Diocese of Arlington for the school’s
16th annual service day on #GivingTuesday.
The day started with a prayer and commissioning service in the
school cafeteria. Students then joined parents and chaperones to head to their
assigned site.
Seventh- and eighth-graders sorted donated items and cleaned at
Christ House in Alexandria. At Sunrise Assisted Living in Arlington they played
games with the seniors and helped decorate for Christmas. Students sorted and
organized donated glasses at Lion’s Club Eyeglass Recycling in Arlington, while
others interacted with pre-schoolers at Little Beginnings Pre-School Child Care
Center in Arlington.
Sixth-graders created Christmas cards for homebound parishioners
and prepared sandwiches for the homeless.
Other students sorted coats collected in the STM Cares coat drive.
Students, including sixth-grader Davina Thongprasert, hand-stitched hats for
local families.
“I feel happy that I’m helping people in need because there are
people who don’t have homes and are cold,” she said.
Ana Lucia Lico, a parent volunteer, taught Thomgprasert how to
make the hats.
“It is very special for me not only to help but to be able to
share a little knowledge helping the students learn how important it is to
serve others,” said Lico.
Sixth-grade teacher Nancy Meehan led the annual service day.
“Each month we focus on a different virtue schoolwide and for November it is
service. The goal of our service projects is to make the practice of Catholic
virtues a way of life for each student,” she said. “We are fostering character
formation in our students and want to instill a desire to practice Catholic
virtues both at home and at school.”