Eighth-grade service project caps Catholic Schools Week

IC photo/Laura Vallejo

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Eighth-grade students at Kearns St. Ann create pantry packs for Catholic Community Service of Utah clients as part of a service project that took place in Utah Catholic Schools.

SALT LAKE CITY — As part of the celebration of the annual Catholic Schools Week sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, on Jan. 31 all the eighth-grade students in Utah Catholic Schools put their faith into action by creating pantry packs in partnership with Catholic Community Services of Utah.

At Kearns St.-Ann Catholic School, 100 pantry packs were assembled. The students, all with smiles on their faces, formed an assembly line and placed the food items such as canned vegetables, pasta, tuna and granola bars into plastic bags, sealing them and put them into boxes that were sent to CCS.

“In today’s world, despite all the challenges that humanity is facing, that these students are doing this makes me very happy to see that they are willing to do it,  and that they are really grateful that other children will be able to eat,” said Sister Patrice McGee, CSC, who teaches at the school.

Having all the eighth-graders in the school system participate was wonderful, said Dominique Aragon, the school’s principal. “We get to be part of that and even though we are a small group, we are doing 100 packs to help the most in need, and that is so amazing.”

CCS helps the community in a variety of ways, and “it is really nice that the students get the behind-the-scenes look at what it means to everybody out there,” Aragon said. “Now more than ever it is important to lend a hand because there is so much division. It is really sad … but it is really important, especially in a Catholic school, that the kids know that they can rely in each other, and they can help the community.”

That the school was able to participate in this type of service project “is marvelous because some of our students also receive help, and to be able to now participate and pay it back, is great,” said Daisy Ricardson, the school’s office manager.

The students shared similar reactions; those quoted are identified only by first name for privacy reasons.

“Lending a hand to some kids that are not able to afford food is something very special,” Mia said, adding that for her it was very important “that we are donating our time and these food items so they can have food.”

Denzel agreed. “I am very happy because I can help some children that don’t have a lot of food at their homes,” he said.

As the completed pantry packs filled the boxes, “I feel that there is hope, because I am able [to be of] to service the most in need, ” Fernanda said.

The Diocese of Salt Lake City has 12 elementary schools, one middle school and three high schools. Four of the schools –Saint Marguerite in Tooele, Saint Olaf in Bountiful and Saint Joseph’s Elementary and High schools in Ogden – are located at least 30 minutes from Salt Lake City. The other nine schools are spread throughout the Salt Lake Valley.