Saint Marguerite student council exceeds goal in collecting clothing to donate to children in need

Friday, Dec. 16, 2016

Tooele — “Learn, Pray, Grow and Become Strong in Spirit.” This call to action adorns the hall of Saint Marguerite School, which teaches preschool to 8th grade. That the students see this phrase as more than just words is evidenced by their recent service project, “Keep Kids Warm.” 

The service project’s goal was to donate 40 pairs of socks and gloves and the same number of hats to children in need this Christmas season.

This goal turned out to be much too modest an expectation for the St. Marguerite students, said Lorena Needham, principal of the school. The quota for gloves and hats was easily met and the students managed to collect 150 pairs of socks, far exceeding the goal. 

“The students are sincere about making a difference,” Needham said.

Members of the school’s student council organized the service project. 

Unlike at other schools, the St. Marguerite council members are not elected by their fellow students. Instead, those interested in serving on the council must write a request to join; Needham then chooses the students she feels are most passionate about helping the school and community. 

“When you’re a smaller school, you don’t need popularity,” she said. “You need equality.”

The members of student council each had their own reason for participating in the service project. For some, it was the knowledge that there were kids out there that were not as safe and warm as them, who may not have the simple pleasure of owning winter clothes. One 7th-grader, Angela Corea, said she volunteered for the service project “because I just want to help out.” 

The donated items were delivered on Dec. 9 to a school in Salt Lake City that serves a large population of low-income families. 

As a Catholic school, the Saint Marguerite community feels responsible to be stewards for God, caring for the community, especially around Christmas time, Needham said. “Part of stewardship is cultivating a generous heart,” she said.