Good Works - Act of Random Kindness Benefits Pregnancy Aid

+ A newsletter about the good works being done by members of the IC-OLPH community

December 22, 2012                                                                                  Editor: Deacon Dennis Kelly

 

2012 Volume – Edition 3                           Please send story ideas to: deacondennismkelly@gmail.com
 

     When you can get a group of frenetic teens to channel that energy into a service project, you know you’re doing something right.

     Students at IC-OLPH parish school have a long history of serving the poor and marginalized in our community.    

     Right now students and teachers are collecting canned goods in a Husky versus Cougar fan competition, an all-school Apple Cup battle that helps ensure the cup runneth over at the food banks. 

     There’s also a giving tree at the school and it looks like everyone on the tree will have a Merry Christmas. 

     But the project that got the attention of this scribe (and even The Herald this week) was an effort to make blankets for the new, young moms helped by Pregnancy Aid. 

     The idea was the brainchild of 8^th grade parent Candyce Eugenio who has watched her son Logan and his classmates “click this year.”  She said, “They’ve come full circle and grown closer.”  The project was a natural.

     As we prepare for the birth of our Lord, the class came together a few weeks ago to create special fleece blankets for expectant mothers and their newborn babies.  In all, the group of young people made 25 blankets for Pregnancy Aid. 

     “It’s very easy to do and it’s fairly inexpensive,” Candyce said, adding the parish community donated fleece for the project thanks to a note in the bulletin.

     Pregnancy Aid Executive Director Angel Metcalf says this is the first time students have donated blankets “and it’s been wonderful.’  She added, “New moms get everything a new mommy needs for bringing a baby home. The blankets swaddle the babies.  In fact, the blankets wrap everything in the gift basket” given to the new moms by Pregnancy Aid.  

     It was really fun to work on (the project) with your friends and a nice thing to do for people who are pregnant and need new blankets for their children,” said 8^th Grader Khloe Wilfley.  Her favorite pattern was one with baby ducks.

     Her classmate Logan Eugenio said the best part was taking the pictures after all the work was done. 

     “We all were in a hyper mood after finishing the project in a single day and decided we had to pose for a picture wrapped in the blankets,” Logan added.   

     He said the most meaningful part of the project for him was to help babies, saying, “If you’re not going to help babies who else are you going to help?  Because that is the future.”  Wiser words were never spoken by an 8^th grader.

     If that wasn’t enough, the IC-OLPH School Show Choir made up of 7^th and 8^th graders dropped by Charles Gipson Senior Center and Everett Plaza Assisted Living Center this week to share the festive music of the season with residents there.

     Music Teacher Mary Chris Goldstein wanted the Show Choir to do a service project and performed a half hour of music with all sorts of special songs for residents of these communities. 

     Our parish school is alive with Good Works this holiday season and year round.  The kids are living out Catholic Social Teaching in beautiful and meaningful ways.


Find out more about Pregnancy Aid in Everett