Juan Diego CHS dives into holiday service projects

Friday, Dec. 26, 2014

By Megan Fairchild

DRAPER  — This holiday season, Juan Diego Catholic High School students are working on many service projects to help those in need in the community. Efforts to support The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake started in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. 

The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake is a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs for the homeless and less fortunate in Utah through Jesus Christ. 

The first project at JDCHS to support The Rescue Mission was a simple collection of 97 cents, or any amount of money a person could give. Amee Garcia, Juan Diego’s Director of Campus Ministry, played a large role in organizing the service efforts this year. 

“For 97 cents, we can feed a person a whole Thanksgiving meal,” Garcia said. She says this is something most people do not realize, though it is so easy to do. 

The fundraiser raised $450 from students; an additional donation made an even $1,000 to help feed families that could not afford a Thanksgiving dinner. Garcia reminds students that even those who cannot afford to give money can give to others through their time and talent. 

Many other efforts for The Rescue Mission are in full swing. An after-school service event was held in which students made fleece blankets for the poor. Within two hours, 40 students made 27 blankets. 

Students are encouraged to follow online tutorials to learn how to crochet mats for the homeless using plastic grocery bags, while Garcia and Vice Principal of Student Affairs Christine Petrone arranged times for students to meet to learn and crochet together. 

“We’re hoping that students who maybe haven’t found a niche yet, or don’t really know what they’re good at yet, will come and gather together and say, ‘Well, I can do this. I can come and give my time,’” Garcia said. 

Juan Diego’s annual service project, “The Gift of the Drummer,” kicked off on Nov. 18. The children who receive items through the program are in need of clothes and toys, and each JDCHS homeroom will provide these items for two children. The project is organized through Catholic Community Services, which each year provides the names and information of children and their needs. 

This year, Juan Diego is giving Christmas to 49 children and teens in the Salt Lake Valley. More teens are in the program this year than previously. 

Danielle Beatty, a senior and Peer Minister, encouraged students to get involved with the service opportunities at the school. “Spiritus Donorum means to give whatever you can, when you can,” Beatty said. She says she loves putting in work to help organize spiritual events that students will remember. 

Teacher Moses Baca’s homeroom students were the first to collect all of their items again this year, but Garcia hopes students take away more from the project than competition. “[I want students to] just to be grateful for the things that they have and to reflect on these things, [and] to connect with these other families and these children that they’re sponsoring,” Garcia said.

 The bags of gifts donated to each family were delivered by peer mentors and Garcia on Dec. 9. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the parents we’re helping and seeing their reactions,” Beatty said. 

Megan Fairchild is the social media editor for JDCHS’ The Speaking Eagle.