Students at Marian Catholic High School along with members of The Emmaus Community in Olympia Fields helped 250 families in need during a community service project that gave a Thanksgiving meal before the holiday.
Over 60 volunteers worked together to assemble and distribute food boxes filled with Thanksgiving staples that helped many have a full meal on Thanksgiving.
Curtis Johnson, Marian Catholic director of choirs and campus minister, said the faith-based project benefited all involved.
“As Christians, we are called to serve others in need but doing this also benefits us,” said Johnson. “In addition to following Jesus’s command to help the least of our brothers, doing good for others also makes us feel good.”
Donations from The Emmaus Community, a non-denominational Christian community, helped purchased additional turkeys and food items that helped the River City Community Church.
Kylie Kimbrough, a Marian Catholic junior from Olympia Fields, was learning by sharing her time she feels fortunate that her family is blessed.
“Volunteering for this program makes me realize that not everyone has food on the table every Thanksgiving,” said Kimbrough. “I’m blessed to have these things and want to help other people in my community who don’t have them.”
Marian Catholic was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield which has a strong commitment to helping people in need.
Linda Hansen, Marian Catholic’s Vice President of Ministry and Mission, said students joined forces with their founders beliefs.
“As our Springfield Dominican sisters continue to model what it means to give service to their community in their 150th anniversary year, we do the same many miles away in a spirit of solidarity with them,” said Hansen.
