National Catholic Schools Week is celebrated during the last week in January each year. During this time, schools often recognize students and teachers. This year, Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas celebrated the mission of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas!
“It was amazing to see the immense generosity and excitement of our parish schools during this year’s Catholic Schools Week. Whether it’s learning about the work we do through a poverty simulation, or volunteering at our TurnStyles Thrift Stores, students were eager to serve and give back,” said Kendra Dudasko, Outreach Coordinator.
We are grateful to the schools who donated items throughout the week to benefit our clients in need and engaged in our mission through presentations and School Serve Experience lessons from our agency staff. In total, 4,877 pounds of food was donated to our agency from all these Catholic schools during Catholic Schools Week.
- Curé of Ars Catholic School held their first-ever School Serve Experience.
- Church of the Ascension students participated in a canned food drive.
- Donnelly College students volunteered throughout our agency and learned more about our mission from a presentation from our agency staff.
- Holy Trinity Catholic School students held a food and hygiene drive.
- Holy Cross Catholic School participated in a poverty simulation and made a “grab and go” breakfast for men living at our Shalom House Transitional Living Program.
- Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic School students held a food drive, and all donations benefited our Topeka Family Support Center.
- Nativity Parish School hosted a sock hop to donate new socks and underwear to individuals and families in need.
- Prince of Peace Catholic School created hygiene and first aid kits, in addition to making lunch bags for our adult clients.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School held a food drive and carnival. All proceeds will benefit their upcoming School Serve Experience.
- St. Ann Catholic School donated 1,527 cans of beans during Catholic Schools Week.
- St. Joseph Catholic School students volunteered at our Hope Distribution Center food warehouse.
- St. Patrick Catholic School students collected macaroni and cheese boxes and participated in a poverty simulation.
“We are grateful for our Catholic schools. It’s opportunities like our School Serve Experiences and food drives that really help kids understand how their actions can make an impact in the community,” added Dudasko.
