Marist Youth Raise $6,000 for Hurricane Relief in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico

CHICAGO, IL -- Marist High School students raised more than $6,000 to benefit those affected by recent hurricanes. Proceeds will benefit the Marist Brothers’ schools and ministries in Puerto Rico and the St. Bernard Project, a non-profit that works in areas devastated by natural disasters. Marist has worked with the organization for several years through its mission trip program.

The school’s service club, Marist Youth, sponsored Hurricane Relief Week October 2 through 6. Homerooms collected donations each morning. At lunch there was an ice cream sundae sale and Marist t-shirts from previous events were sold with profits going to the cause. There was an added level of fun to the fundraiser with homerooms competing to raise the most money. The winning homeroom from each grade level received bagels and juice.

There are Marist schools and alumni in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico and the school’s administration and students were compelled to respond to the devastation so many were experiencing.

“The reaction from students was inspiring,” said Colleen Pochyly, Marist campus minister. “This gave them a sense that they could help someone in need even though they are far away.”

A January mission trip to Texas is planned to help with the long-term clean-up taking place along the Hurricane Harvey-ravaged Gulf Coast. Other locations for spring break mission trips are being considered.

“The opportunity for kids to see the needs people have firsthand is always powerful,” said Patrick Meyer, a 2010 Marist graduate and fellow campus minister. “It’s both humbling and empowering for students to realize all they have and the immense ability they have to impact someone else’s life.”

Marist sponsors two to four mission trips per year as opportunities for students to serve, learn about social justice, and experience other cultures.