by Davy James, Staff Writer
With the arrival of the Thanksgiving holiday, the students of St. Augustine’s School are giving back to their community to help make the holiday brighter for the less fortunate.
The students have been participating in charity drives to provide food for those in need during the holidays.
”Our Spirituality Committee plans how we can reach out to the larger community and in what ways we can reach out,” said Principal Sister Mary Louise Shulas. “The kids learn that others need them and that there are so many ways to help others and make a difference. The message we bring is hope and that the people in need are not alone.”
On Friday, each middle school student, along with parents and faculty, gathered in the school cafeteria to make lunches for Elijah’s Promise, a soup kitchen in New Brunswick. Each student made sandwiches, which were sent along with bottled water, fruit, healthy snacks and a Thanksgiving prayer. In total, 300 bags were sent to Elijah’s Promise.
”We want the students to know that they’re blessed and we want to teach them that it’s better to give than receive,” said teacher Debbie Knox. “We not only talk about faith, but we put our faith into action and live it out.”
Students also made crafts and holiday decorations to send to a few care centers in the area.
”It brings a great deal of love and joy for people to know they’re thought of and cared for,” Sister Shulas said.
The students also brought in various food items to put together a holiday food basket to be given to Social Services and donated to needy families in South Brunswick. Each student brought in a particular food item, teachers donated turkeys and some parents donated pans to cook the turkeys in.
”Through Social Services we learned there were three families in need of a complete Thanksgiving meal,” said parent Maureen Quigley, who helped coordinate the donations. “The kids were able to see visually how each little part came together to make a whole meal.”
As the mother of a third-grader in the school, Ms. Quigley said the donations help instill a sense of pride in the community.
”It’s rewarding to know that we’re teaching our children to give back and do it from the heart,” she said. “It’s something they’re doing because it’s genuine, not because they’re being told to do it.”
Sister Shulas said her hope is for the children to realize that charity and giving extends throughout the year and not just during the holidays.
”We want them to know that this isn’t just a one-time school activity and that there are ways they can do this in their own community and not just in school,” she said. “We hope this stays with them for the rest of their lives. They don’t have to do big things, but little acts of kindness can make a difference.”

