Before heading to the Thanksgiving Break, students at Cristo Rey St. Viator worked together the help feed the hungry.
A closer look at some of the collection at CRSV.
The annual CRSV Thanksgiving Food Drive took place before the holiday, and students came together to collect donations at school. Director of Student Life Ms. Anna Saltsman celebrated how students rally around service, even when facing disadvantages in their own family life. “Students here at CRSV are always enthusiastic to support their community. They reflect on Jesus’ teachings to feed the hungry and clothe the naked,” Anna said. “Even though our students typically come from disadvantaged communities themselves, their hearts of service and humility shine.”
The items are sent over to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, a local Christian organization that feeds the hungry as well as providing sheltering, counseling, and more. “The Las Vegas Rescue Mission is an organization that serves all in need and strives to meet all needs: physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional. The work they do is inspiring,” Anna said.
The project has become an annual effort, dating to 2021, when the school community sought to expand service to reach out more from campus around the area. This Viatorian school, with Director of Catholic and Viatorian Identity Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV, prioritizes “Be a Service Leader” as a core value for its students, and collective actions such as this help students live this out.
The GLOWS effort at STM involves a TON of parishioner volunteers!
Around the province, building on the success of Harvest Sunday efforts, Viatorians are busy bringing people together to feed the hungry, including:
- Associate Cheryl Schwarz coordinated a 26th year of GLOWS (God’s Love Overflowing with Service) Thanksgiving dinner. The meal prep, assembly, and delivery served homebound seniors a hearty holiday meal, thanks to the volunteer work of hundreds of parishioners. Cheryl is Director of Outreach Ministry for St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV, a parish of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas founded by the Viatorians.
- Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary assembled and distributed 119 baskets of Thanksgiving food for families in need. The parish especially thanked volunteers Pre-Associate Mileen Joines, Jeanette Schneider, Bonnie Martin, Mary Schore, and Rhonda Smith for their big roles.
MBVM’s volunteers assembled 119 baskets from the massive influx of doanations.
And more and more service around Christmas gift-giving, feeding people, and more continues! May we reflect this Advent on who society may be accounting of little importance, and respond by walking with and serving these people.