Community Service
As we strive to provide experiences to our students that will enable them to lead and to interact with others in actively shaping the future of the Church and the global community, service to others teaches an understanding of and concern for those in our community who need our support. 
 

Thanksgiving Food Pantry Collection
On November 16th, boxes and boxes of non-perishable food items were sorted and packed to be delivered to Fr. Sweeney's Food Pantry at St. Mary's Parish in North Plymouth. Sacred Heart Elementary School students were very generous in donating food during the drive, which took place from October 31st through November 16th. Thank you for your support, as we thank God for our blessings during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Lenten Service Project -
"Caring for the Children and Mountains of Appalachia"
Our Lenten service project this year is focused on reaching out to the children and families in St. Charles, Virginia, located in the Appalachian Mountain chain. The project has two objectives: 1) to raise the consciousness of our students concerning the poverty in some Appalachian communities and to give what we can to help; and 2) to raise the consciousness concerning the environmental and ecological disaster related to "mountaintop removal coal mining" in the Appalachian Mountains and encourage a "call to action" for legislative changes to protect the Appalachian mountains and valleys.

Fundraising proceeds of several activities during Lent will be sent to the Sisters in St. Charles, VA who work in the community with the children and families who are very poor. The Student Council sold 'Journey with Christ' wrist bracelets for us to wear as a reminder that lent is about giving of ourselves. Additional student fundraising efforts included Ice Cream sales, and Bread & Broth Day.

To raise the awareness regarding the devastating environmental impact of "mountaintop removal coal mining" in the Appalachian Mountain chain, students viewed videos and researched several articles and websites that detail the destruction of the mountains and the displacement of the people there and their way of life. To mine the coal more cheaply, the coal mining companies are blasting away the tops of mountains and the debris and vegetation is pushed off the man-made plateau into the valleys below, covering and polluting the mountain streams. Students have been writing letters to governmental officials in attempt to affect changes in the environmental legislation that allows this practice.

Sacred Heart students participate in a variety of community service projects throughout the year. The Student Council and all classes are involved in some form of service to others beyond the Sacred Heart community. Some of our most successful service projects have included:

• Food Drives
• Teddy Bear Collection for Hospitals
• Jump Rope for Heart
• Flip Tops for Ronald McDonald House
• Box Tops for Education
• Heifer International Project Ark
• Mission Collections

Save soda can "flip tabs" for donation to Ronald McDonald House!

Sacred Heart Elementary School saves soda can "flip tabs" for donation to the Ronald McDonald House. Through the collection and coordination efforts of Grade 4, Room 207, a school record of 86 gallons of flip tops were recycled during the 2006-2007 school year, resulting in a donation of $4,000 for the Ronald McDonald House. For more information contact the school by phone at (781) 585-2114 or check the website for Ronald McDonald House Charities.