Coat Drive Success!

St. Mary’s ​School ​5th grade students partnered with the parish recently to put their outreach​ ​efforts into action and led the entire parish in a coat drive, which yielded 340 warm and​ ​gently used coats for the clients of Catholic Charities who need protection from the winter’s chill.​ ​

Thanks to Erika Freitas ​ (5th grade teacher) ​and Carol Thornton​ ​(Community Ministry Director) for organizing this​ ​outreach, to the students who helped organize​ ​and count the coats, and to all who were able to​ ​donate.​ ​

Students promoted the coat drive through articles in the parish bulletin, posters on campus, signage in the morning and afternoon carlines, and collections bins at the school and church. ​Of special note ​were Nate Teresi and Luke White who had a combined birthday party​ ​recently. They asked in lieu of gifts that a donation be sent so that coats could be​ ​purchased.

With the monies given, they were able to​ ​purchase 40 new coats. What a great​ ​example of Christian service and thinking of others before themselves!​ ​

Photo Caption: St. Mary’s School 5th graders, Erika Freitas, Carol Thornton, and John D. Rinaldo (Director of Parish Partnerships, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County)