Class Service Projects
Freshman Class Service Project: Catholic Charities Christmas Store
The Catholic Charities Christmas Store served 578 families in 2009 and plans to serve even more this year. The families are referred to the store by many Indianapolis social service agencies. They are invited to shop and, if possible, pay $2.00 per person in their family, maximum $10, for the opportunity to pick out two outfits, underwear, socks, gloves, hat, two toys, stocking stuffers, and a household item for each family. They select their choices from new merchandise that has been donated by local schools, churches, individuals, and businesses. Shopping and organizing for the Christmas store is a year-long process that involves many volunteers. Here are the ways that the Freshman class will help at the Catholic Charities Christmas Store:
1. Donate toys and/or socks on October 13, 2010 at the Freshman Day of Recollection held in the Welch Activity Center for the Christmas Store. The freshmen will be asked to bring their donations to the gathering in the morning, commencing first in the cafeteria. Suggested toys are: trucks, dolls, toddler toys, games for all ages, and teen gifts, but none requiring batteries or computers. As for socks, men’s socks are particularly needed this year, but they also need socks for boys, girls, and ladies.
2. Assist Christmas Store preparation by making Christmas ornaments for these families from old Christmas cards. Over 650 ornaments will need to be created for these families. Our freshmen will assemble these ornaments during a work session on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 (Open House day from 12:15-4 PM) and on Nov. 19 (2:30-5:15). Nov. 19 help takes place at The Xavier Center and on Nov 20 work will be at Cathedral in the SLC. Please send in donations of old Christmas cards to Mrs. Halstead as soon as possible.
3. Assist Client Shopping at the Christmas Store during the Christmas season: Saturday, December 4th, Sunday, December 5th, Saturday, December 18th, and Sunday, December 19th. The hours are 1:45-4:45 PM.
4. Help prepare for the 2011 store by helping on Wednesdays on January 13, February 10, March 3 and April 11 from 3:15-6:15 PM.
5. Work during the summer in support of the store. Simply contact Mrs. Snyder at 317 726 0807 to schedule a work session.
Click here for the detailed description of the Freshman Class service project. Click here for the permission slip. Each freshman is warmly invited to help assist the Catholic Charities Christmas store which serves 578 disadvantaged families.
Sophomore Class Service Project: The Lord's Pantry (Anna's House)
The Sophomore class service project will be working with the ministry started by Lucious Newsom. Who was Lucious Newsom? He was a street minister who provided food and support services to underprivileged families in Indianapolis. “Just before 5 in the morning, Lucious Newsom climbed out of bed and into his blue bib overalls, starting another day as "the Lord's beggar for the poor." …Just as he has done for the past 21 years in Indianapolis, the retired Baptist minister-turned-Catholic drove across the city, stopping at supermarkets, bread stores and produce companies to pick up or buy food that he then delivers to people in need.” This last year we sadly said goodbye to Lucious when he died on August 18, 2008. Lucious still needs our help to continue his work. The sophomore class will be able to help at Anna's House, 303 Elder St 46222, in the following ways:
- Monthly Spaghetti Dinner: Second Wednesday. Starting with August 11th, on the second Wednesday of the month, the sophomore class will help cook and serve a tasty spaghetti dinner to about one hundred families from Lucious Newsom’s ministry. We have set up the additional dates of September 8, October 13, November 11, December 8, January 12, February 9, March 9, and April 13, May 11, June 8 and July 13 as the Wednesdays for this dinner. Sophomore students applied for and were awarded a grant for this monthly spaghetti dinner last year. Please email Mrs. Halstead at chalstead@cathedral-irish.org with your interest in cooking and serving at one of these Wednesday dates. Mrs. Egan's spanish classes are helping with reading on Wednesday nights.
- Saturday Food Distribution at Anna’s House: The sophomore class officers will be helping to distribute food at Anna’s house each Saturday this year from 9-12 PM.
- Collection Drives: The sophomore class will be helping with a coat drive on Saturday October 9 where we will help transport students from the Anna's House for new coats at the State Fairgrounds. In addition, Madeline Wright will be helping the students to organize a snack drive in the spring.
- Lenten Prayer Partners/St. Patricks Day Dinner in a Box: During Lent, Cathedral families will be invited to sponsor a $25 lucky dinner in a box and to unite as a Lenten prayer partner with a special family from Lucious Newsom’s ministry. The Sophomore class will deliver the dinners, along with an Irish blessing prayer, to the recipients on Wednesday, March 16, 2011.
Working with Lucious's ministry is always a priviledge. Click here for the detailed description of the Sophomore Class service project. A copy of the permission slip may be obtained here. Each sophomore is joyfully appreciated for their interest in helping to continue Lucious' ministry. He continues to shepherd us in wonderful ways.
Junior Class Service Project: Wheeler Mission and Cathedral Soup Kitchen
Cathedral Soup Kitchen
With the help of several area high schools and the OLMC young adult group, the
Cathedral Soup Kitchen is now serving Saturday meals to the homeless. The Cathedral
juniors have committed to preparing and serving this Saturday meal once a month. The
first date for this activity is August 14th. It will take place thereafter on the second
Saturday of each month, specifically Sep. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12,
Mar. 12, Apr. 9, May 14, June 11 and July 9, 2011. It will include fundraising either through grants or through our own efforts to fund the program for one year (once a month) by working concession stands in the SLC. This outreach will provide invaluable project experience appropriate to the junior class maturity. Adult supervision is needed for the Cathedral Soup Kitchen lunches. Cathedral juniors have helped to launch this Saturday lunch for the Cathedral Soup Kitchen at 1350 N. Pennsylvania 46202 so that a hot meal is served seven days a week at the Soup Kitchen. We cook and serve this Saturday meal once a month with fondness and good culinary abilities.
Wheeler Mission
Wheeler Mission serves the homeless, the poor, and the underprivileged men, women and families, as well as single women in our community. A Christian, faith based organization, their services range from housing, meals, counseling, classes, bible study and support for all sectors of needs. Wheeler Mission’s facilities are extensive and include meal and housing services at the Men’s Mission on North Delaware, the Wheeler Center for Women and Children on 3208 E. Michigan St. 46201, and the Lighthouse Mission at 520 E. Market Street. In addition to serving meals at the centers, the Juniors champion participation in the Turkey Dash held on Nov 25 Thanksgiving Day in the morning in Broad Ripple. In another opportunity to help the homeless, the Junior Class will help these ministries.
1. Serving of Wheeler Meals:
We will also support the meals being served once a month by the ACTS group.
The dates of these meals will be available to us soon by the ACTS club. A parent
chaperone is required by Wheeler when these meals are served.
2. Thanksgiving Turkey Dash for Wheeler Mission-November 25, 2010
The dash will take place Thanksgiving morning in Broad Ripple. There is a on
line sign up on the Wheeler Mission web page for the run at www.wmm.org.
This event will be led by several juniors and by the Girls On The Run organization.
3. Collection Drive for the Homeless
During the third week of October, the juniors will help lead a coat and jeans drive for
the homeless. This will be a school wide drive.
4. Support for the Scarves Program Grant Earned by Drew Myers
As a junior, Drew Myers applied for and was awarded a grant to make fleece scarves
for the homeless. We will be supporting Drew in the creation of warm scarves for the
homeless in preparation for the cold months of winter.
Each of these events nudge our juniors to grow in insight and understanding of the needs of the homeless population in Indianapolis. It also enables them to demonstrate their individual leadership and character strengths. Click here for the detailed description of the Junior Class service project.
Senior Class Service and Leadership
Our seniors are encouraged to complete their service projects and hours in a manner which satisfies their intellectural and academic curiousity, as well as demonstrates a heart felt interest in various not for profit agencies and community needs. We also invite their senior leadership to be evident in our Cathedral community, which then impacts our extended community at large. Click here for the details of the invitation to the members of the senior class to be leaders at Cathedral through their constructive roles in service and school activities.
