Christmas is truly the season of giving, and St. Mary’s students got in on the action as they do every year!
Partnering with Russell J. Salvatore and the Salvation Army, St. Mary’s raised money for the Salvation Army’s Toy Shoppe. After holding a dress down day, St. Mary’s students took the money raised and bought a treasure trove of toys from the local Bloomsbury Toy Shoppe in Lancaster and dropped them off at Russell’s to add to their huge collection of donated toys.
Campus Minister Deacon Robb Ciezki stood outside his classroom for two weeks collecting spare change and dollars from students, faculty, and staff to donate to St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. That spare change – along with donations from some generous parents – resulted in over $1,450 raised for the mission. Mrs. Sue Choboy, who works closely with St. Luke’s, came to pick up the donation and expressed just how far that money will go during the incredible time of need the holiday season brings.
St. Mary’s is proud to partner with St. Luke’s throughout the year in a myriad of other initiatives. Several students who benefit from the mission’s great work also receive tuition assistance here at St. Mary’s. Throughout the rest of the year, our student body collects clothes and other personal care items to donate, and Deacon Robb takes a small group of students once a month to volunteer at St. Luke’s, where they prep and serve dinner.
Lastly, Campus Ministry and the St. Mary’s Girls Club ran a coat drive, collecting new and gently-used coats for the Summit Life Outreach Center’s Gift of Warmth Drive. In all, over 100 coats will go to families who can really use some warmth during the winter season.