Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy Serve-a-Thon Benefits 11 Nonprofits

BOALSBURG — More than 160 students, faculty, and volunteers from Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Boalsburg spent the day volunteering for 11 nonprofit organizations in Centre County.

The Salt & Light Serve-a-Thon was a school-wide event with the purpose of raising beneficial funds for Saint Joe’s in a meaningful way: by serving others.

‘Salt & Light provided students with the opportunity to put servant leadership into practice, applying what they have learned in the classroom and chapel in a practical, meaningful way,’ said Saint Joseph’s Dean of Students Malissa Martin, who organized the event for the school. ‘It also helped our students identify areas of need in our community and shows them how they can make a difference, for now and in the future.’

‘I left feeling more positive and focused on the important things in life,’ added Saint Joseph’s senior Anna Henderson, who spent the day cleaning and organizing at the State College Food Bank. ‘It felt amazing giving back to the community.’

Non-profit organizations that benefitted from students’ service hours include:

· Boal Mansion

· Centre Peace

· Centre Region Parks & Recreation

· Housing Transitions

· State College Meals on Wheels

· Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

· Mount Nittany Conservancy

· OLV Preschool

· Schlow Centre Region Library

· St. Vincent de Paul

· State College Food Bank

‘Our organization is fueled by the hard work of volunteers, and the students from Saint Joe’s contributed valuable time to help us strengthen operations to serve hungry families in our community,” added Carol Pioli, executive director of the State College Food Bank.