News at St. Catherine's
Faith in Richmond: Serving Together
Interfaith service project brings St. Catherine's students and Muslim students together.
November 17, 2014
by Claire Mills
Faith in Richmond
Students from St. Catherine’s Middle School and from the Iqra Academy of Virginia, a Muslim elementary school in Richmond, regularly participate in community service, but recently, they worked together for the first time. Groups from the two schools joined forces to volunteer in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church food pantry. They donated food, stocked shelves, and packed bags of food for needy families to receive through the church’s food ministry.
Every week the church gives out food to anyone who needs it. “These students are helping neighbors in our very own community from going to bed hungry,” said Deb Lawrence, the Outreach Coordinator for St. Stephen’s. “We are planting the seeds of service early.”
“Our religious tradition says to do good deeds and to be generous,” said Amir from Iqra Academy. The students from both schools made an efficient team working together to extend generosity by preparing bags of groceries that will help feed local families.
The middle school service group at St. Catherine’s, Serving our Community Kids’ Style (SOCKS), participates in outreach projects that make a hands-on difference in the community. When their teacher facilitator Sherry Oelkers asked how they wanted to make a difference with the school’s food drive, they did a little research. The girls responded that they wanted to meet the students from Iqra Academy. Last year, students from Iqra volunteered at the Episcopal church’s food pantry, so this year the two schools teamed up for a morning of service at St. Stephen’s.
“We’re so blessed. Our religious faith values emphasize neighborly deeds,” said Annette Khan, one of the teachers from Iqra Academy. “And it’s important to promote interfaith partnerships with our youth.”
“I liked meeting different people today and helping the food pantry – everyone deserves to get enough to eat,” said Kelly from St. Catherine’s.
By the end of the morning, the students had filled the room with bags of groceries for the food pantry to help meet the great need in our community.
Besides seeds of service, the seeds of friendship had also been planted. After their work was done, the students had time to get acquainted, ask questions, laugh together and give hugs all around.
Back
by Claire Mills
Faith in Richmond
Students from St. Catherine’s Middle School and from the Iqra Academy of Virginia, a Muslim elementary school in Richmond, regularly participate in community service, but recently, they worked together for the first time. Groups from the two schools joined forces to volunteer in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church food pantry. They donated food, stocked shelves, and packed bags of food for needy families to receive through the church’s food ministry.
Every week the church gives out food to anyone who needs it. “These students are helping neighbors in our very own community from going to bed hungry,” said Deb Lawrence, the Outreach Coordinator for St. Stephen’s. “We are planting the seeds of service early.”
“Our religious tradition says to do good deeds and to be generous,” said Amir from Iqra Academy. The students from both schools made an efficient team working together to extend generosity by preparing bags of groceries that will help feed local families.
The middle school service group at St. Catherine’s, Serving our Community Kids’ Style (SOCKS), participates in outreach projects that make a hands-on difference in the community. When their teacher facilitator Sherry Oelkers asked how they wanted to make a difference with the school’s food drive, they did a little research. The girls responded that they wanted to meet the students from Iqra Academy. Last year, students from Iqra volunteered at the Episcopal church’s food pantry, so this year the two schools teamed up for a morning of service at St. Stephen’s.
“We’re so blessed. Our religious faith values emphasize neighborly deeds,” said Annette Khan, one of the teachers from Iqra Academy. “And it’s important to promote interfaith partnerships with our youth.”
“I liked meeting different people today and helping the food pantry – everyone deserves to get enough to eat,” said Kelly from St. Catherine’s.
By the end of the morning, the students had filled the room with bags of groceries for the food pantry to help meet the great need in our community.
Besides seeds of service, the seeds of friendship had also been planted. After their work was done, the students had time to get acquainted, ask questions, laugh together and give hugs all around.
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
