Student project helps homeless

An eighth grader at St. Francis de Sales Regional School in Herkimer, Celia chose to investigate homelessness for an English Language Arts project. As a result, she spearheaded a collection to benefit New Horizons, a shelter for homeless teenage girls in Utica.

"People began bringing things in by the bushel full," Celia told The Evangelist. "It's amazing what a few letters can do in a caring community. The table in the eighth grade room was so full that the boys temporarily lost their lunch spot."

Project to help

The eighth graders had a choice of three projects they could do surrounding the topic of "home," part of a unit with the first theme being "No Place Like Home." The goal was to connect real world ideas with the literature-based theme.

Students could do projects that investigated what a home is, developed an appreciation for home or weighed the consequences of having no home.

Sister Jackie said Celia was the only eighth grader to choose to look at homelessness. Celia said she selected the project for several reasons.

"I can't do anything artistic, and the other two projects required that," she said. "It also seemed interesting and the most challenging. It also seemed to be the only one that could actually benefit others."

Helping out

New Horizons, operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, is for girls between the ages of 16 and 21 who do not have a safe place to live. The shelter serves as a temporary home where the girls can live for up to five years. During that time, they must work on completing high school and learn skills that will allow them to live independently.

While the shelter would be happy to accept food, Celia learned the residents had other needs, like winter clothing, toiletries and school supplies. She then wrote letters to the families at St. Francis as well as to some local businesses. When the donations began to come in, Celia learned her greatest lesson for this project.

Caring shown

Those who made donations deserve praise, Celia said.

"The attention I'm getting is surprising," she said. "All I did was write some letters. The people who brought in things deserve the attention."

Connection

While touring the facility, Celia had the opportunity to meet one of the residents. "She seemed hostile, and yet we had dropped stuff off for her," Celia said. She then learned that the girls who come to New Horizons often cope with their problems by becoming tough or aggressive.

"I believe that one of the saddest things about suffering is that so many people toughen up," Celia said. "Although this toughness may often protect them from others' comments, it also blocks out much of the love and kindness they so desperately need. Another problem with this is that often those who develop poor attitudes as a way of coping often cause situations to repeat themselves, turning into vicious cycles that are almost impossible to escape."

All in all, Celia is grateful she had the chance to do this project. "I'm very glad that I was given this opportunity to help out," she said. "I'd definitely do it again."

(12-07-00) [[In-content Ad]]