Making Mission Possible

Name of Project: Tsunami Relief and Mission Around the World

Number of People Involved: 375

Description of Project: Divine Mercy parents, students, and staff participated in outreach projects that benefited those in need. Classroom competitions and fundraising events included a “penny challenge,” a pie-throwing contest, and Lenten mission banks. School supplies, personal hygiene products, baby items, and books were also collected and sent to family shelters and mission centers.

Why the Project was Successful: With a unified purpose, the events created a stronger sense of community among the members of the school family. In monetary benefits, more than $9,000 was distributed among various missions around the world. The spirit of service was evident, and most of all, the students had fun.

Name of Project: Operation Christmas Child

Number of People Involved: 48

Description of Project: This is a hands-on ministry through Samaritan’s Purse where hurting boys and girls receive gift-filled shoe boxes. Boxes were filled by the student's and families’ donations of small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and any other items for children either 2-4; 5-9, or 10-14 years old. The students hand-packed each box, wrote a letter to the recipient, and finally added a prayer to each box for the child who eventually received it. We filled close to 35 boxes.

Why the Project was Successful: The project was successful because it was student-generated, collected, packed a sent with prayer, the greatest gift of all, Jesus, “Thanks be to God.” (2 Cor 9:15.)  One student received a letter from a little 9-year-old in Sudan, Africa who received her box.

Name of Project: “Mile of Pennies”

Number of People Involved: 92 students, the entire student body

Description of Project: The seventh grade Shalom Club joined a project sponsored by Sarah’s Place, a women’s resource center in Kentucky that ministers to the needs of women and children in Appalachia. Sarah’s Place has the only child development center in Elliot County, Ky., where 72 percent of the children live in poverty. The students raised $500 as a share of the “mile of pennies” being raised to build an addition to the child development center.

Why the Project was Successful: We were successful in raising $500 because our children are poor and understand the needs of other poor children. They appreciate what Notre Dame Middle School is doing for them and wanted to share.

Name of Project: Operation Christmas Child

Number of People Involved: 170 families

Description of Project: One of St. Agnes’ Parish mission projects is the well-known “Operation Christmas Child.” Shoe boxes are filled with as many practical hygiene and fun items as possible. These boxes are included in this worldwide endeavor and directed to the millions of children who have so little.

Why the Project was Successful: “Kids helping kids,” not only allows children to understand the poverty of other children but lets the children experience the great joy that comes with giving to others. Since parents by necessity must be involved in this project, they also experience the double joy of giving and seeing their child’s delight in doing this.

Name of Project: Mission party

Number of People Involved: approximately 200, plus about 60 “donors”

Description of Project: The school mission party includes homemade games, mystery prizes, a drawing for various “cool” items, and the ever-popular cakewalk. The mission coordinator and faculty plan the event with the help of parents. Children and their families look forward to this two-hour party with anticipation.

Why the Project was Successful: Knowing the proceeds go directly into the hands of the most needy missionaries, our families are generous in allowing their children to participate. Even though the children are having a wonderful time, they are aware their giving means life to others. Since this project began nine years ago, the school has collected $28,411 for the missions.

Name of Project: Pennies for Progress

People Involved: Campus ministry, family, and friends of the school

Description of Project: For the second year, the school worked with families, community, and friends of the school to raise money for St. Charles Lwanga and St. Pontian schools in Uganda, Africa. The students learn about life in Third World countries and they then spread that concern to others in the community.

Why the Project was Successful: The project raised around $2,000 for the two twinning schools. The campaign also helped form long-lasting relationships between students, faculty, and administration. Our community is more aware of the needs of our African family and they are aware of ours. We are prayerfully united in one voice, one spirit.

Name of Project: Twinning project with St. Joseph Naggalama Parish, Lugazi Diocese, Uganda

Number of People Involved: 14 twinning committee members, along with the parish

Description of Project: This is our third year twinning with St. Joseph which has 28 sub-parishes, 19 schools, and a hospital. St. Mary collected money in 2004 for a water harvesting tank and in 2005 for the completion of the Namyaya school. Efforts also generated more than 450 hand-written letters from St. Joseph students and adults to our St. Mary students and parishioners.

Why the Project was Successful: The number of parishioners that were affected positively, spiritually, and personally was more than ever imagined. Very positive feelings were generated at St. Mary. We received unbelievable letters of appreciation from the St. Joseph students, faculty, and parishioners and gifts (other than the prayers and joy of sharing), including a carved Blessed Mother statue and a large handwoven mat from the St. Joseph Twinning committee. They have sent several photos of the tank and the school project. We hope to have some of our parishioners go there to visit next summer.

Name of Project: Lenten project

Number of People Involved: 500 students from four schools

Description of Project: Sr. Joannes Klas grew up in northern Ozaukee County and attended Rosemary School in Fredonia. A School Sister of St. Francis, she visited the students at the four schools, telling them about the children and families in Yalpemech, Guatemala. As a result of her visit last September, the children in these Catholic schools decided to raise money to send to Sr. Klas to help purchase school and medical supplies for the Guatemalans. The children had fund-raising activities, did extra errands at home, played faith facts with the principals, sacrificed a pizza party, and had penny contests, a Winter Carnival, Valentine cookie sales, Fat Tuesday bake sales, and sundaes on Mondays.

Why the Project was Successful: By meeting Sr. Klas and hearing her story, the children could put a face and a place on their own mission awareness. This gave a greater sense of meaning to their activities and sacrifices which generated more than $3,900 for the people of Yalpemech, Guatemala.

Name of Project: St. Peter School helping St. Mary School

Description of Project: Our students watched a video about a school in India called St. Mary School.  They noticed the students didn’t have any shoes on. They decided to do a fundraiser to purchase flip-flops to send to the students. We took a picture of the children of our school looking like an American flag. We sold the picture and used the money to purchase flip-flops for the students at St. Mary.

Why the Project was Successful: Our students were very sympathetic to these children. They realized, by seeing how little these students had, how much they have to be thankful for. Our picture of the children in flag formation was a symbol that we are proud to be Americans where we have the greatest ability to be able to help others who are less fortunate.

Name of Project: Tsunami relief

Number of People Involved: 387 students, 30 faculty and school families

Description of Project: After learning of the tsunami disaster, students designed, ordered, and distributed 2,000 pink and blue tsunami relief bracelets with the phrases, “for the children,” and “tsunami relief.” This all-school community service project was one way our students could feel involved and helpful to others in need. The students sold the bracelets at the weekend liturgies and in their communities.  We raised nearly $3,000 for the tsunami Catholic relief efforts. All proceeds from the sale of the bracelets went to this cause.

Why the Project was Successful: The project was very successful financially and spiritually. The students learned about compassion and empathy for others who are less fortunate. It was a big undertaking since no area schools or parishes sold these eye-catching bracelets.  We were proud to be the distributors for the entire Milwaukee Archdiocese. It is a rewarding feeling to connect with children so far away and in such tremendous need. We felt privileged to have helped in any small way. Our students have a visual reminder of the challenges facing others around the world.

Name of Project: Heifer International Lenten Project

Number of People Involved: 240, including students and staff

Description of Project: At the beginning of Lent, students learned about Heifer International’s mission to end world hunger. Each classroom received educational materials and plastic ark banks. The students saved change in their ark banks and participated in a community raffle.

Why the project was successful: The students learned how grassroots efforts can help communities directly to create healthy families and environments. The Heifer Road-to-Feed program taught students how Heifer helps families to help themselves. The students felt a strong connection to giving animals as gifts as well as to helping children like themselves.