By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Children in Kasai, Africa, pose in their new uniforms, courtesy of a project led by St. Hugh School alumni Maria Alejandra Mendoza and Eduardo Velazco.
St. Hugh alums Maria Alejandra Mendoza and Eduardo Velazco pose with some of the uniforms they collected over the summer.
COCONUT GROVE | Thanks to two St. Hugh School alumni, children in Kasai, Africa, and Venezuela have new uniforms this school year.
Well, perhaps not brand new, but very gently used.
Eduardo Velazco, a rising senior and Mas Scholar at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, and Maria Alejandra Mendoza, a rising junior and Bernadette Scholar at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, joined forces over the summer to organize a drive to collect old school uniforms.
They called their project "Cover with Love," and gathered about 600 uniforms total - relying mainly on the generosity of families at St. Hugh School, where they both attended elementary and middle school.
Eduardo and Maria Alejandra divided the uniforms according to the climate where they would be sent: light and airy ones were sent to Africa. Heavier/thicker clothing was sent to Venezuela.
"It feels good to see that our vision is making so many children happy," said Eduardo.
"I cried when I saw the pictures of the children in Africa. We have made a difference in these children lives," said Maria Alejandra.
The two plan to continue their project. They want to collect all types of uniforms, from any school, including sports (team) uniforms.
"These students are truly
remarkable," said St. Hugh Principal Mary Fernandez. "They organized this project completely on their own. We at St. Hugh
Catholic School are truly proud of our students."
