Community Service
Every school year, each student is responsible for meeting the Opus Fidelium requirement to complete and document a minimum of twenty-five (25) community service hours. Using the X2VOL software program, students are expected to submit hours as soon as an individual service activity is completed. Documentation required includes the date(s) of service, number of hours of service, place of service, a description of service activity, and the e-signature of the supervisor under which the student has served. Upon verification, the student’s permanent record shall list the service hours completed.
Through serving others, students grow in their knowledge of the world and themselves. Campus Ministry offers many opportunities to engage in service. The following is a partial list of area organizations that students are encouraged to research as they select how and where they would like to complete their Opus Fidelium requirement:
- American Cancer Society
- American Red Cross
- Animal Rescue Programs
- Area Homeless Shelters
- Area Hospitals
- Area Nursing Homes
- Catholic Charities
- CT Special Olympics
- Dorothy Day Hospitality House 8
- English as a Second Language
- Food Drives
- St. John Paul II Center
- Habitat for Humanity
- Healing Hearts and Hospice of Western CT
- New Hope Center
- Interfaith AIDS
- Knights of Columbus
- Literacy Programs
- Local Parishes
- Midnight Run
- Relay for Life
- Regional Hospice of Western CT
- Rogers Park Middle School Weekend Backpack Program
- United Way of Fairfield County
- Approved service to IHS and area schools
Hands/Heart
23K+
hours of community service were performed by students last year.
Recent Community Service Projects
Rising juniors Allie and Chloe Bellone put together 158 care packages and delivered them to Swab’s at the US Coast Guard Academy during their seven week bootcamp. The theme for this week’s care packages was “You’ve got the power” and “Swab the deck”. Each bag was filled with peanut butter crackers, powerade, protein bars, granola and cleaning supplies.
IHS students James Toscano ‘23 and Ryan Tappan ‘22 are giving back to their community this summer. Both James and Ryan baked brownies and muffins and delivered them to the residents at Saint John Paul II Center! James also made over 70 cards for residents.
Senior Jack Doran earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout this year. Becoming an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scout organization takes many years of hard work and dedication to a special project. Jack built a 140ft chain link fence bordering the King Street School’s playground as a way of giving back to his former elementary school. The fence took approximately 9 months to plan, including gaining the approvals from the Danbury Public Schools Safety Coordinator, fundraising the $2,700 for acquiring materials and constructing the fence. “The project’s execution was a big success and it felt great to give back to my old school,” said Jack. Job well done!
During the school year, students from Immaculate’s CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program did on-site training at St. John Paul II Rehabilitation Center in Danbury, working with patients and assisting staff. While they had to stop going to the center due to the pandemic, the students never forgot their patients and the center’s staff. To show that they were still thinking of them, the students made posters of support, created care packages for the staff and wrote letters to the residents.
IHS students have opened their hearts and used their spare time to help brighten the days of those in area nursing homes by making beautiful handmade cards. We are inspired by their generosity and compassion for those who are frightened and feeling isolated during the pandemic, as well as their desire to provide encouragement for the staff members.
Thank you to our wonderful families, alumni, faculty/staff and to all those who donated to our Stuff the Van event on Sunday. Because of you, our event was successful as we were able to deliver TWO full vans of food to Jericho Partnership’s food pantry this morning! Even the Danbury Fire Department came by in their big red engine to drop off items!
Compassion meets creativity as IHS freshman Kayla O’Marra watched her mother sew a mask and thought she’d like to try. Now, in her spare time she has been making masks and donating them wherever there is a need. A small sample of what she has made is pictured below, each with a pocket for a filter and wire for the nose. Kayla is another shining example of our students doing small things with great love during this challenging time. We could not be more proud of the initiative so many Mustangs have taken in recent weeks showing their strength, creativity, faith and compassion! Way to go, Kayla!
Miss Donnarummo's two senior theology classes participated in a community service project for Colin's Kids, an organization that supports research for and treatment of congenital heart defects. The students had fun while making "no sew' knotted blankets for children in area hospitals. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/colinskids.org/