CHARLOTTE — Students at St. Matthew School learned the lesson of giving during Poverty Action Week, the week leading up to Easter break.
All week long the school took the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching they studied throughout Lent and provided an opportunity for students to put those principles into practice themselves. The central point for the Lenten lessons was Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus’ instructions to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. Students collected items for St. Matthew Church’s food pantry, listened to talks from volunteers at the parish who work for justice and peace, and prayed a Living Rosary for the needs of their brothers and sisters throughout the world who are suffering. They also welcomed Bishop Peter Jugis to the school to celebrate Mass and visit the classrooms. The week culminated in working with the organization Servants with A Heart to fill an entire semi-truck with packets of pre-mixed and measured nutritious food to send to the poor in Haiti. “In doing all of these things, we hope that our students will learn that we are called to be generous, kind and to put our faith into action,” noted Principal Kevin O’Herron in his letter to parents.
CHARLOTTE — For the first time, Our Lady of the Assumption School participated in a fundraiser to support Camp Care, a non-profit organization whose goal is to send children who are suffering from cancer to a free summer camp.
Students made donations to be entered into a drawing to get an opportunity to cut a teacher’s hair. The hair was then donated to make wigs for children with cancer.
Camp Care (Cancer Ain’t Really the End) provides a weeklong summer camp and year-round activities to children (and their families) in the greater Charlotte area who have or had cancer. The summer camp and activities throughout the year are for kids in all stages of the treatment journey: on or off treatment; in remission or fighting relapse; those showing no symptoms or side effects; and those with physical or mental challenges.
The week-long summer camp provides a normal camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings aged 6-16. All activities, including summer camp, are free to all families. Camp expenses are more than $500 per child. Each year, the camp serves more than 200 campers and their families. In addition to their fundraising efforts, local organizations provide treatment to the children, such as the Carolinas HealthCare System’s Levine Children’s Hospital, and Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital.
Inspired by her personal experience with the disease, kindergarten teacher Christina Stevens spearheaded this activity. In 2014, Stevens was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. During her treatment, she was approached by some of the medical staff where she was being treated to consider becoming a Camp Care counselor. After having an incredible experience as a counselor, she became an advocate of the program. She is often heard sharing her Camp Care stories and experiences in hopes that they will inspire and educate others about this opportunity.
Stevens, Ann Kiefriter (music teacher), Whitney Hannah (first-grade teacher), and Francesca Stevens (Stevens’ sister) volunteered to donate their hair to the cause. Stevens’ mother, Maria Stevens, supervised and guided the students who won the opportunity to perform the big “chops.”
The school’s fundraising goal was $600, enough to send one child to camp. OLA raised $1,800 in its inaugural effort, and hopes to continue its support in coming years.
— Allana Ramkissoon and Stephanie Brooks