MILWAUKEE, WI - Trading in studies for service —a local school is focused on gratitude — dedicating an entire day to helping others a day before Thanksgiving.
Wednesday was Crusader Day of Service at Waukesha's Catholic Memorial High School. Students, parents and faculty all came together, putting in 1,500 hours of service right within their community.
“I’m looking forward to just being able to spread joy because the whole purpose of service is to impact other people,” Brooke Lemke, a junior at Catholic Memorial High School said.
That impact starts in the classroom with cutting and knitting as students piece together plastic yarn or 'plarn,' to make sleeping mats for the homeless.
“The school’s motto is 'Caritas in Omnibus' which means charity in all things and to me, I really can embody that," Lemke said.
The work continued with loading boxes of care packages, hand decorating holiday cards while working to get the job done as a team.
Donna Bembenek, the school's president, said she hopes the day of service helps positively change the lives of the thousands of people facing poverty in Waukesha County.
“Service is a part of our DNA," she said. "It’s very much a part of what our students believe in and role model throughout our community."
The day of service ended with a Thanksgiving dinner at the school, feeding more than 200 people in need.
