Students at St. John LaLande Catholic Middle School prepare baby bottles for the Serve&Lift Center
“The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” -Luke 10:2
Here in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, the harvest is indeed ready and abundant! Across our diocese, many people need help- and with this need comes the call for more laborers, more volunteers. At Catholic Charities new volunteer opportunities open regularly. Some require a steady commitment, while others are one-time or seasonal events. As needs shift and goals expand, so do the opportunities to serve. With this growth has come an especially exciting engagement with our youth.
Recently, 8th grade classes have joined us at the Serve & Lift Center for Exploration Field Trips. During these visits, students tour Catholic Charities, learn about our work, and participate in hands-on service, all within a two-hour experience. This is just one way we’re planting seeds of hope in the next generation.
We are also partnering with high schools across our 27 counties. High school students often need service hours, and we are grateful to partner with schools for their “Days of Service” as well as individual opportunities. To make student serving easier, we’ve launched a monthly newsletter highlighting Our Lady of Hope Service Society activities designed specifically for high school students. Each issue highlights a community need and how Catholic Charities is responding, while also sharing ways students can get involved through current volunteer opportunities.
Our Lady of Hope Society is a service organization that celebrates service to others. Students who volunteer 20+ hours at Catholic Charities are automatic members and receive a bronze pin of Our Lady of Hope. Once they become juniors or seniors in high school, they are eligible to be one of the gentlemen or debutantes presented at the Hope Ball. Students then receive a silver medallion in recognition of their service and leadership within the church from Bishop Johnston. Adults who commit to help raise critical funding or volunteer on a Hope Ball committee are called our Guardians of Hope. These Guardians ensure the mission continues and are awarded a gold Our Lady of Hope medallion at Bishop’s Mass the last week of October.
Each of us has been given unique gifts that reflect God’s heart. When we share them, we become part of the mission to “Serve and Lift.” Students or adults interested in volunteering with Catholic Charities are invited to connect with us. Email Volunteers@ccharities.com or call (816) 615-8205 to learn about current opportunities. High school students and parents can also request to join the Our Lady of Hope Service Newsletter by contacting us at the same email or phone number.
We are deeply grateful for all our volunteers and their servant-leader hearts. Together, as the hands and feet of Christ, we are harvesting hope across our community.
By Alexa Schulte, Volunteer Coordinator at Catholic Charities of Kansas City–St. Joseph
St. Patrick’s students help sort canned goods