Posted November 29, 2016

In preparation for Thanksgiving and in gratitude for their own blessings, students at Bishop Shanahan High School recently undertook several initiatives to give back to others.

Through the Community Service Corps, an after-school club at Shanahan, students collected candy and filled 150 bags that were sent overseas to Bishop Shanahan alumnus, First Lieutenant Jay McElvenny, and the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army, which is currently serving in Afghanistan.

On each bag of candy was a handwritten note from a student thanking the soldiers for their service to the United States and wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving.

Through their theology classes this semester, students collected turkeys, nonperishable food items and cash donations to provide 30 families in West Chester, Coatesville, Parkesburg, Phoenixville and Norristown with a full Thanksgiving dinner.

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Groups of students and faculty moderators delivered these dinners to the families after school on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Surplus food donations and a $500 cash donation were given to The Lord’s Pantry in Downingtown to help feed the needy in Chester County.

On the same day, following the school’s Thanksgiving Mass, school leaders presented a check for $10,000 to Cheryl Mrazik of Catholic Relief Services. The students had raised the funds to aid in CRS’ relief efforts in Haiti following Hurricane Matthew.

In addition to the check presentation, Mrazik presented Shanahan President Sister Regina Plunkett, I.H.M., and the entire student body with the Platinum Award from CRS.

Bishop Shanahan is one of only 23 high schools across the nation that has achieved the platinum distinction from CRS, which recognizes the school’s efforts in educating its students on global issues and in taking action to effect change in both local and global communities.