Rockets called to serve during Day of Christian Charity

McNicholas students celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a school-wide day of service. This Day of Christian Charity is just one example of the McNicholas commitment to enthusiastic giving and serving our neighbors in the spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Each academic department came up with a unique service project so that students had an opportunity to touch many lives as they worked their way through their class schedules on Friday, Jan. 31. Students grew in compassionate leadership and put their love into action in a variety of ways, including donating blood, crafting blankets for Hospice patients, making sandwiches and reusable bags for local food pantries, collecting and counting change for Catholics United for the Poor, writing cards to seniors in local living communities, and much more. This was also a fully unplugged day. When students completed working on service projects, they enjoyed playing cards or ping pong instead of working on their computers. 

Principal Bob Noll said, “The day was wonderfully successful and certainly helped us move closer toward Full Stature in Christ.”

• The SAIL Department made 47 fleece blankets to bring warmth to people in Hospice centers.  
• The Theology Department rolled over $1400 worth of change to donate to Catholics United for the Poor and relief efforts for those suffering the effects of fires in Southern California. They also crafted rosaries for chaplains at local senior living facilities.
• The English Department made treats for dogs and cats in local shelters and wrote about 400 notes and cards to spread love in local senior living facilities for Valentine's Day. 
• The World Languages Department created floral designs and paper flowers for the residents of Anthology. 
• The Science Department built bird houses and bird feeders and the engineering club worked on building a bath chair lift for a 2-year-old who lives with an Anoxic Brain Injury and Cerebral Palsy. 
• The Social Studies Department made a total of 250 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to give to local food pantries and wrote 175 notes of appreciation for Veterans. 
• With the help of Hoxworth Blood Center, students gave 47 units of blood with the potential to save 141 lives. 67 volunteers maxed out sign up slots available to give blood. 
• The Math Department turned donated t-shirts into 250 reusable bags for St. Vincent de Paul food pantries. 
• The Art Department made friendship bracelets and sun catchers to bring joy to patients at Children's Hospital. 
• In addition, our Youth Chapter of St. Vincent de Paul organized a Warm Clothing Drive. 

Theology teacher Mrs. Mary Beth Sandmann said, "Overall, our students had an experience of simple giving to others, following Christ's teaching to love our neighbors as ourselves."