The club meets every Wednesday before school. For the first two years of its sponsorship, the club held fundraisers like cookie and candy cane sales to pay for their $360/year sponsorship. They also raised extra funds to help Esperanza celebrate her birthday and buy school supplies for the children at Esperanza’s home.
This year, the club extended its efforts to involve the entire school by teaching each class about Esperanza and Friends of the Orphans. During the month that a class is responsible for preparing Mass, it collects money for Esperanza. Each child writes her a card in Spanish, reinforcing their Spanish lessons. The money and cards are brought up during the offertory at Mass, and Esperanza is remembered during the prayers of the faithful.
Stephanie shared that the club is important to St. Catherine School because, “Like every Catholic school, we strive to weave Catholic identity into all that we do. One of our Student Learning Expectations states: ‘St. Catherine students are conscientious global citizens who help those in need through service.’ Being Esperanza’s sponsor helps our students become aware of the world and its many needs. We are taking action to change one life. Esperanza wrote in one of her first letters to us, ‘No one ever told me they loved me before.’ We are blessed to send that love to one special child.”
We are grateful to St. Catherine School and the many Catholic schools in our Archdiocese who sponsor our children!
Eastside Catholic School
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School
Sacred Heart School
St. Anne School
St. Louise Parish School
For more information about how your class and/or school can become involved with Friends of the Orphans, please contact:
Laura Useche, Regional Manager of Child Sponsorship, Friends of the Orphans – luseche@friendsus.org
Stephanie Schuler, 3rd Grade Teacher, St. Catherine School – sschuler@nwlink.net
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