by Jill Ragar Esfeld
jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
OVERLAND PARK — “We’re hoping this day inspires them,” said Ascension School principal Becky Wright after students here participated in the third annual Eagle Serve Day program.
Outreach coordinator at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas Kendra Dudasko started the day off at an all-school prayer service.
“Today, you are essentially employees of Catholic Charities,” she told the students. “You’re helping us to serve.
“So, thank you, enjoy yourselves today, really fully embrace and participate and remember you’re doing this on behalf of people that really need your help!”
The Ascension Eagles elementary students stayed on campus, participating in activities like assembling food and hygiene kits for those in need; making placemats for Shalom House in Kansas City, Kansas; writing notes and coloring pictures for homebound parishioners; and helping load the Catholic Charities truck.
Middle school students headed off to help at Catholic Charities locations like TurnStyles Thrift Stores, and Hope Distribution Center and New Roots Juniper Gardens Training Farm, both in Kansas City, Kansas.
The day of service was organized to help students learn the importance of the corporal works of mercy as part of their Catholic faith.
“So many activities were coordinated for them,” said Wright. “And it was really neat to see the end result.
“We all can make a difference, and in each little thing we do, we should give glory to God.”
That message came through loud and clear for fifth graders, who made cards and packed Grab-N-Go breakfast kits for Shalom House residents.
“You’re just serving God,” said Bennet Wilson. “Because God’s mission is to help everybody, to make everybody treated the same.
“If you take a little of your time to do something to help other people, it just makes him (God) love you more.”
Classmate Molly Krenn agreed.
“I learned that it’s important to help people because a lot of people don’t have the things we have,” she said. “We actually have breakfast and they don’t, so it was nice to give that to them.
“And it’s what Jesus would do.”
It took many volunteers, teachers, staff and donations from parents to make the day a success.
“It was just one big joint effort,” said Wright. “It was so beautiful.”
Many activities involved hard work, but students said they had fun.
“One bag of food goes to one person who doesn’t have anything,” said fifth grader Danny O’Donnell. “And it’s important because that could change their life.
“Just knowing that I helped someone made it fun.”
The day ended with students gathering to watch a video of all the projects they’d participated in.
“It showed every single grade level and what they did and then told who that impacted in the community,” explained Wright. “It was really neat for them to see.
“A lot of times kids think they can’t do anything, and this showed that even as a little kindergartner, you can make a difference.”
Wright expressed gratitude to Catholic Charities for helping arrange programs for students to participate in throughout the day.
“It is a blessing to work with an organization like Catholic Charities that makes such an impact in our community by helping in so many ways,” she said.
At the end of the day, Danny Wilson voiced the feelings of all his fellow Eagles.
“You’ve got to be and act like Jesus, and what would Jesus do?” he said. “He would help the poor; so that’s what we did today.
“Me knowing that I helped somebody today . . . it just feels good.”
