Category: Stewardship

7th Grade Stewardship

(September 23, 2022) – Last year, Mrs. Sue Tony’s homeroom (6T), wrote letters to senior parishioners who were homebound, maybe couldn’t get out as much as they used to or don’t have family in the area with them. This effort was so successful and well-received that when Mrs. Tony moved to a 7^th grade homeroom this year, she decided to continue sending the cards and Mrs. Colleen Donlan’s classroom (7D) is also on board. This year they have been able to add even more parishioners to the list.

Briana Hernandez and Theodore Girsch are currently 7^th graders and were in 6T last year. “It made us feel good that we were reaching out to our community and helping other people,” said Briana.

The card recipients were thrilled and started writing cards back to the students. From there a pen pal relationship evolved. “They would tell us that we cheered up their day and they were hoping for more letters from us later on,” said Briana.

“We were told that they decorated their rooms with our cards,” added Theodore. He continued, “Our cards were themed with the holidays and sometimes they would tell us a story about their holidays when they were younger.”

The students said that at Christmas their pen pals unexpectedly sent them hot chocolate bombs, a very fun surprise. And while they weren’t writing to receive hot chocolate bombs in return, you can see that beautiful things happened between the generations by building community.

In addition to the pen pal relationship, both seventh grade classes have chosen to serve St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its patients this year. While it’s early in the school year and they are still ironing out details for the year, they are starting with weaving hats and conducting a coin collection throughout October.

When asked if he had ever woven yarn before, Jack Hapke said “I have not, but I am enjoying it!” Jack went on to say, “I hope that we will be able to hand deliver the hats so we can meet some of the people who are receiving them.”

The students shared that in October they are embarking on a “Coins for Cures” fundraising effort. “We will first create a presentation and then go to each classroom, with the 7^th grade homerooms each taking half of the school. We’ll set out decorated jars and ask people to share their spare change by putting it in the jar,” said Theodore. The students plan to collect money throughout the month. “We hope to bring the money with us to St. Jude when we bring the hats,” concluded Jack.