AHN DAY OF SERVICE

Students and staff served the marginalized, poor and disadvantaged at 18 different service organizations.

The Academy of the Holy Names took a break from academics on Oct. 17, as students, faculty and staff volunteered in the morning at 18 different service organizations around the Capital District. 

The Day of Service demonstrated the dedication the entire Holy Names community has to serve the marginalized, poor and disadvantaged in the area. The focus stems from the charisms of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM). 

The afternoon consisted of smaller service projects, such as making friendship bracelets for St. Catherine’s Center for Children, turkey napkin holders for area nursing homes and painting pumpkins for elementary students. Back at the school, the groups talked about their experiences and created presentations for the school community.

THE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDES:

Blessed Sacrament School: Planted tulips.

Patroon Land Farm: Transplanted garlic.

City Mission of Schenectady: Sorted donations at Distribution Center. Volunteers sorted and hung clothing, shoes, and other items, making them available for free local clothing rooms both here at City Mission and in 10 local schools!

Albany Therapeutic Riding Center: Informational session, demonstration, fall clean-up, gardening, mucking paddocks, cleaning the barn, cleaning tack, painting.

Christ Child Society, St. Madeleine Sophie Church: Made comfort bags filled with personal care items, coloring books, crayons, reading books and stuffed animals. They will be delivered to shelters, foster care programs and police departments.

Grassroot Givers: Did a teenage clothing and children's book drive leading up to the event and then brought the items to sort and organize.

Unity House: Volunteers were given a tour of the non-residential building and a presentation on the services provided at the agency. Volunteers assisted in organizing donation closets/youth center/files.

Capital District YMCA, Troy location: Mural creation (drawing and painting).

Emmaus United Methodist Church/RISSE: Volunteers helped accept and sort donations for migrant men, women and children in the Capital District.

Hoods House of Hoops: Mission is to bring unity to communities by providing safe, engaging athletic programs to youth; building community and leadership through basketball.

Capital City Rescue Mission (Albany): Volunteers served food to our guests in the dining room, and sort donations.

St. John/St. Ann Outreach Center: Soup kitchen day when the school served lunch to their guests. preparation, meal planning, and clean up. It was a great opportunity for service and firsthand encounters with guests.

Capital Region Toys for Tots: Helped sort toys by age and genders.

THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS TOOK PLACE AT THE SCHOOL:

The MoonCatcher Project:MoonBee (Auditorium): Created/assembled reusable menstrual pads for poor, underprivileged girls.

HicksStrong (Art Room): Learned how to volunteer/lead a HicksStrong Hug Mug paint and save as well as paint a Hug Mug for a service member.

Night Out For You (Arts Center): Volunteers created two "informational videos" to promote two upcoming fundraising events to benefit cancer patients who would like to enjoy a special night of their choosing.

Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless (Commons): Made lunches for the guests of the shelter and deliver lunches.

To Life! (Library): Made pink ribbon pins for various events.