From the St. Martin de Porres Shelter Newsletter, July 2005 in Seattle, WA

Earlier this month high school students, from around the country, spent part of their summer vacation working at St. Martin de Porres Shelter.  Here they learned about the problems and challenges associated with being homeless or marginally housed. The students were participants in the Network of Sacred Heart Schools Summer Service Projects.

Seattle is one of eight cities involved in the Network service program this year.  The other cities are Chicago, IL; El Cajon, CA; Greenwich, CT; New Orleans, LA; Omaha, NE; Poughkeepsie, NY; and San Francisco, CA.  Seattle’s one-week service project ran from July 10 - 17 and was named “Lending a Hand”.

The Network is an association of 21 Sacred Heart Schools across the United States including Bellevue’s Forest Ridge School, which hosted the Seattle project’s 10th and 11th grade female students.  The Network schools share common goals, including a commitment to educate students to “a social awareness that impels to action.”

“Lending a Hand” participants spent their mornings tutoring at risk elementary age children at a Seattle Public School. Afternoons were spent at a variety of social service agencies such as shelters, food banks, soup kitchens, and thrift stores.

When speaking with the students, Audrey Threlkeld, the Seattle Service Project Coordinator, stressed the importance of giving time.  At St. Martin’s, students cleaned residents’ sleeping mats; served dinner; and discovered how the Shelter would not function without all of the hours volunteers donate daily.

The students’ hometowns included Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Omaha, Seattle, and Washington, DC.  “It’s amazing that you do this every night!” said one student who was impressed with St. Martin’s organization and smooth operation.

Forest Ridge School’s connection to St. Martin’s goes well beyond the Sacred Heart Schools Summer Service Project.  For 10 years now, Forest Ridge students have been providing a wonderful pasta dinner for Shelter residents one Sunday a month.

During the school year this service program is a monthly commitment for 10 to 12 student volunteers who make a meat sauce for the pasta.  To complete the meal, the group brings fresh fruit, green salad, dressing, parmesan cheese, rolls, milk, and homemade cookies.

High school students and/or parents assist with the food preparation, delivery, service, and cleanup at St. Martin’s on designated Sundays.  Even Forest Ridge alumnae return to the Shelter to serve dinner sometimes!

We thank Forest Ridge and all the Sacred Heart School students for building stronger communities nationwide and in our own community here at St. Martin’s.  Your desire and success in putting your faith into action are inspiring to us all.