The eighth-grade students of St. Louise Parish School in Bellevue were busy this year. The students not only tackled a tough study load, took on extracurricular activities, and participated in school sports, but also carved out the time to give back to the community.
As part of the required service hours expected of the St. Louise junior high students, eighth graders are asked to plan and implement a service project during the school year.
This year, the students visited elderly at local retirement homes, collected soccer balls to ship to Africa, donated cell phones for soldiers stationed overseas, collected magazines for hospital waiting rooms and warm coats for local organizations.
During the 26 years eighth-grade teacher Mary Herridge has taught at the school, she has witnessed many student-led service projects. Still, she remains humbled by her students’ giving attitudes.
“I’ve been inspired by the efforts of our students and this year’s group took their role as servants especially seriously,” Herridge said.
During the fall, several students organized a walk-a-thon around Robinswood Park to raise awareness of the hungry and the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s efforts to provide food and emergency assistance to those in need. Each student contributed a dollar or more to participate. The students raised more than $300.
Another group decided to get creative and collected Capri Sun pouches, washed them, then created tote bags to sell at the school’s St. Nicholas Breakfast in early December. The students donated all the proceeds to the St. Vincent de Paul. Again, more than $300 was raised to benefit the local needy.
In addition to individual service projects, every month a group of eighth graders serve a meal at the Salvation Army located near Crossroads Park. One of the students organized a classroom auction in which students brought small items to put up for bid. The proceeds from the bidding raised $284 to purchase personal hygiene products for the Salvation Army.
Another project is coming up Sunday. From 2:30-5:30 p.m., St. Louise Parish School student Devon Schoos is organizing a car wash to raise money for World Vision’s Wells for Africa projects. Help is needed washing cars at the Overlake Jitters, 15010 NE 20th Street in the Overlake area.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.
