Small Saints can do some very big things

Some parishioners from St. Michael the Archangel parish in Troy recently cooked lunch for 50 needy people and delivered it to Joseph House, a shelter for the homeless in Troy.

That's only one of many saintly things they have done in the past year.

What's unusual is that the parishioners are 56 children who want to make a difference and don't let their youth get in the way.

Small Saints

Laura Kowalczyk, 11, a sixth grader at Algonquin Middle School in Averill Park, is founder, president and chief executive officer of Small Saints.

Last year, she wanted to join the parish Women's Guild because she had some ideas for community service projects. But she was too young for that group, which requires that members be at least 18.

Laura didn't let that stop her or her ideas. With the help of a few friends and the pastor's permission, she established the Small Saints for kids interested in performing community service.

Achievements

Leann Bentley, 12, the group's treasurer (and also a sixth grader at Algonquin Middle School), said that Small Saints netted $898 after expenses in their first year. "We're saving our money to purchase a wide-screen television set for use by the parish," she said.

Vice President Amelia Bryans, 11, also a sixth grader at Algonquin, said that recruiting efforts during the year were successful.

Last year, "we set up a small table at the [annual parish-wide] ministry fair," she reported. "A lot of kids signed up then. This year, we decided to do things different. We just set up a little booth one weekend; and, after each Mass, we had volunteers take names. We offered free, home-made cookies and religious stickers to anyone that came to the table."

Involvement

The group's secretary, Elise Kowalczyk, 13, an eighth grader at Algonquin, commented that Small Saints is "a good organization to be a member of because young people have a chance to get involved helping others. Kids this age don't usually think about things like that."

The group concentrates on doing good works and community service projects to help others. This year, in addition to repeating some of last year's successful activities, they will plant flowers near the church, help some shut-in parishioners with spring cleaning and cook a few dinners for parish families.

Christine O'Connell, 14, a ninth-grader at Columbia High School in East Greenbush, is looking forward to participating in as many community service projects with the group as she can in anticipation of making her Confirmation in several years.

Asked why she joined the group of mostly younger volunteers, she pointed out that "this group is made up of kids that just want to be involved in doing good works. I'm glad we got started. We've done a lot of good things in just one year and we're all looking forward to doing a lot more."

"I joined because I wanted to help others in our community." said Rebecca Grasso, 12, a seventh-grader at Tamarac Middle School in Brunswick.

"I thought it would be fun, and it is," said Patrick Bryans, 8, a second-grader at Miller Hill School in Averill Park. "I like to deliver things to people in nursing homes because they say, 'Oh, I love young people,' and that makes me feel good."

(When the members recently reviewed their first year, they came up with 14 community service projects they had carried out, including a St. Valentine's Day submarine sandwich sale; serving as greeters for the parish's St. Patrick's Day Mass; making and delivering Easter crafts to shut-ins; hosting a successful Flag Day bumper-sticker sale; sponsoring several bake sales; collecting winter outerwear for needy children; and crafting Christmas gifts, including gingerbread houses for shut-ins.)

(4/1/04) [[In-content Ad]]