Schools
St. Mary Fifth Graders Raise Nearly $1,500 for Off the Streets
During the season of Lent, four student organized a fundraiser to help the homeless.
In late April, St. Mary School four 5th grade boys, Michael Meehan, Joseph Suarez, Stephen DeMarco and Jacob Schultz, collected toys and games to sell in a tag sale that benefited the Off the Streets program in Danbury, run by St Mary Deacon Mike Oles. Their goal was to raise $600, but the boys ended up more than doubling their goal and raised $1,415.
Off the Streets' mission is to "ensure that all possible means are taken to provide lodging and support for persons who are on the streets and in emergency shelters of Danbury."
Oles said: "What these four fifth graders have done is extremely inspirational. They came up with an idea, thought it through, arranged to somehow get their classmates on-board, got parents involved and set up the Church Hall in a very organized manner."
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He added that the boys also were great marketers, as they had a half-price sale so that everything was a bargain beyond bargain. Leftover items went to other charities and fundraisers.
"At the end of the day, every item that left over from those donated to the fund raiser for Off The Streets ended up serving a very worthwhile cause, which had not even been anticipated when the boys began their venture," Oles said.
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All the money donates to Off The Streets goes directly to helping a homeless person directly, Oles said. The organization is made up completely of voluenteers, and has no overhead, office or paid staff. According to Oles, it takes $500 on average to get one homeless person off the street. The organization also helps them with rent and mentors them to keep them on their feet.
Joseph's mother, Denise Suarez was the volunteer coordinator of the tag sale. Suarez said: "The St. Mary School community did what they often do when asked to serve those less fortunate - they came through with flying colors and before long the boys had loads of children's toys, books and much more to use at their tag sale. The four boys have put what they've learned at St. Mary School about serving God and others into action during this season of Lent."
