Mary Help of Christians students help feed over 400 families

By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

PARKLAND | Living out the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew � "For I was hungry and you gave me food..." � eighth grade students from Mary Help of Christians School partnered with the neighborhood Publix to collect 410 bags of food that were donated to Our Lady Queen of Heaven’s food pantry.

According to Jackie Schaub, MHOC eighth grade teacher, “This eighth-grade service project is such a great experience for our students because they are involved in every aspect of this event. This is the seventh year our students have been involved in this community-building event.” 

“Students advertise the project which involves our school and church, man a table at Publix every afternoon and on weekends for 10 days, and then deliver and distribute the food to the parishioners at Our Lady Queen of Heaven,” said fellow eighth-grade teacher Stacy Sexton.

“The students, parents and parishioners collected so many bags filled with Thanksgiving favorites and a gift card that we needed 6 SUVs to deliver the food bags to Our Lady Queen of Heaven,” added MaryEllen Letvinchuk, another eighth grade teacher. “The students could see that they really made a difference.”

Alexandra Fernandez, the school's principal, noted this is her first year at the school. “I was so excited to participate with the students on this community service project and experience the gift of serving others along with them. Watching the students bringing to life our Catholic social teachings of feeding the hungry and addressing community needs through meaningful and reflective service emphasized that students at Mary Help of Christians are truly shining lights in our world.”