Rosarian Academy Students Hold Food & Toy Drives and Organize Activities for Less Fortunate Children in their 'Tis the Season of Giving and Service Event
West Palm Beach, Florida (PRWEB) December 31, 2015 -- Rosarian Academy is an integral part of their community and service to others is very important to them. By offering service opportunities throughout the year, the West Palm Beach Catholic School aims to graduate students who live this lifelong message and make a positive difference in the world. An even greater focus on giving and service is emphasized during the holiday season. Over the past month, Rosarian students participated in Food for Families, a toy drive, and organized Christmas parties at The Lord’s Place and Opportunity, Inc.
Coordinated by the eighth grade, Rosarian continued its annual community food drive in conjunction with News Channel 5 Bill Brooks Food for Families from October 28 -November 20. Approximately 2,600 lbs of non-perishable food was collected to provide needy families with a plentiful Thanksgiving. Once again, the school worked with St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church and donated the canned food collection to their van ministry and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
“The generosity of many wonderful people went a long way toward helping us provide food to many needy people who walk into our parish office,” wrote Rev. Arthur Venezia, Pastor of St. Paul of the Cross, in a thank you letter to the Rosarian Academy families.
For over twelve years, the seventh-grade class has led the school-wide effort to collect unwrapped toys for needy children in our community who may not otherwise receive anything for Christmas. After spending 2.5 weeks collecting toys, Rosarian Academy students loaded a Palm Beach County Health Department truck with over 500 unwrapped toys. In addition to the school community donating toys, Student Council also sold candy canes that contributed $470 to purchasing toys for the drive. The Health Department distributes the toys to children in Palm Beach County who are currently benefiting from their services.
“I am overwhelmed with joy at the generous hearts of our Rosarian students and families. As a community, we far surpassed our original goal of collecting 300 toys. One week prior to the pick-up of the toys, we raised the goal to 400. Over 500 toys were collected and will make hundreds of children in Palm Beach County happy this Christmas—what a beautiful testament to the true Christmas spirit!” commented Steve Rubenacker, Head of School.
In addition to the students’ philanthropic giving of food and toys, many middle school students spent time organizing holiday events for two local non-profit organizations--The Lord’s Place on Tuesday, and Opportunity, Inc. on Thursday. With the National Junior Honor Society at the helm of the planning, sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students decorated Christmas ornaments and cookies and made crafts with the children who reside at The Lord’s Place Family Campus and those who attend Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center.
“It makes me happy and excited to work with the kids and make them feel better about themselves. I love giving back to those who are less fortunate,” said eighth grader Emma Guerrieri, President of the school’s NJHS chapter.
Rosarian Academy, founded in 1925, educates students from early childhood through eighth grade and offers an exceptionally strong academic program enriched by athletics, visual and performing arts, and community service opportunities. The independent, Catholic school is located on Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach and is sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Rosarian is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. For more information, visit http://www.rosarian.org or call 561.832.5131.
Carey O'Donnell, O'Donnell Agency, http://www.rosarian.org/, +1 (561) 832-3231, [email protected]
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