In a powerful display of student-driven leadership, Maria Regina High School is capping off one of its busiest seasons of community service. Students at the renowned all-girls Catholic school have once again answered the call with “urgently needed initiatives to feed the region’s hungry and support the homeless poor at a time when this highly at-risk population, including children, has faced serious challenges,” said Principal Maria Carozza-McCaffrey.
The students led the highly successful 30th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for Saint Peter’s-Saint Denis Food Pantry by delivering 400 frozen turkeys and more than 2,000 non-perishable items that made it possible to provide a traditional Thanksgiving meal for over 400 families, one of the most significant donations to date. Immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday, nearly 100 students slept are scheduled to sleep tonight in cardboard boxes in below-freezing temperatures at the 26th Annual BOX City to raise awareness and support the region’s unsheltered homeless individuals and families, including children. The students are also raising funds to help Midnight Run, the Dobbs Ferry nonprofit, fulfill its mission of coordinating relief missions to the homeless poor on the streets of NYC.
On the heels of these critically needed campaigns, the entire student body of 470 students will participate in the annual Day of Prayer and Service on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The students will again undertake an extensive range of activities throughout the day to fulfill the meaning of service in their local communities.
By anchoring service projects with a Holy Day of Obligation, the school ensures that the entire student body can gather for a united Mass celebration before transitioning directly into a dedicated time of community service, upholding the school’s mission of linking faith with action.
The upcoming event builds on a season where students have already taken ownership of critical community needs. They will deploy across the region to lead various community service projects. A few highlights include:
- For Hillside Food Outreach in Mt. Kisco, which provides nutritious food to homebound individuals in the community who are chronically ill and disabled, the freshman class will help brighten their day. They will create colorful artwork for about 1,000 placemats for the homebound to use during meals. In addition, a group of 30 seniors will visit Hillside to deliver bags filled with holiday gifts and messages of love and hope.
- For Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center in Yonkers, devoted to providing a whole and happy life to children who have some of the most challenging and limiting medical conditions on earth, sophomores are creating 1,000 holiday cards for the children and their families.
- A group of women from Belmont Catholic Community Center in the Bronx which serves the community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Martin Tours Church in the Bronx, will visit Maria Regina and collaborate on an art project with juniors. The students will help create art for items like paper poinsettias and toilet and paper towel holders, which Belmont can then sell to raise money to support its many religious, educational, social, and charitable activities.
- For The Sharing Shelf in Port Chester, which addresses the clothing needs of children and teens in Westchester, a contingent of seniors will lend a hand sorting and preparing donated clothing for distribution to families in need.
- Another group of seniors will journey to the Equestrian Center in Cold Spring, which provides therapeutic interactions with horses for children, teens, and adults experiencing physical, psychological, and behavioral challenges, and will devote their time to helping around the ranch. In so doing, they will also meet some of the horses and learn about the benefits of equine therapy.
- Appropriately, given the significance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the fact that Maria Regina was established 63 years ago by the Sisters of the Resurrection, a group of nuns from Marian Woods in Hartsdale will join seniors in preparing lunches that will be donated to Midnight Run for distribution to the unsheltered poor.
But that’s not all. Following the Day of Prayer and Service, Maria Regina’s students will resume collecting toys and gifts in the 30th Annual Toy Drive for Mercy Center, the South Bronx nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and families to overcome economic poverty.
Their ambitious goal is to deliver the Christmas gifts to 200 families on December 19 before the Christmas break begins on December 23.
Principal Carozza-McCaffrey emphasized that these events are purposefully designed to cultivate servant leadership. “Our students during this especially very busy holiday season are again making a difference in so many lives in dire need, young and old, and representing all ethnic backgrounds and faiths— through their tireless and selfless efforts and generosity,” adding: “They continue Maria Regina’s enduring mission of empowering young women to become compassionate leaders who serve others. We are blessed, for our students fulfill the meaning of Christmas every day.”
