Providence Catholic Students Kick Off Season of Giving

Caption: Standing: Mrs. Jen Williams (AYM Moderator), Dylan Gorski ’18 (Shorewood), Grace Huguelet ’16 (Frankfort) and Colin Brankin ’16 (Orland Park) Kneeling: Taylor Warfield ‘15 (Orland Hills), Frankie Mata ’17 (Joliet) and Rachel Gorski ’16 (Shorewood) gather donated stuffed animals for the Teddy Bear Drive.

Providence Catholic students have been busy this fall.

The season of giving began with events sponsored by the Augustinian Youth Ministry (AYM), a service-based student organization with more than 400 members. In October, students, faculty members, alumni and parents of students donated nearly 60 units of blood during the annual PCHS Blood Drive; this donation may help as many as 180 people in need. AYM also supported a Teddy Bear Drive, which was initiate by senior Rachel Gorski of Shorewood.

“My friend Caley witnessed first-hand the loneliness kid’s experience when they are hospitalized so she started collecting stuffed animals for these children,” said Gorski. Providence Catholic students donated several hundred teddy bears and other stuffed animals that were donated to Rush Children’s Hospital. In November, AYM will be collecting non-perishable goods for the annual food drive; toys and gift cards for children and teens will be collected in December.

Furthermore, members of the Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI) are nearing their fourth year of hosting “Sandwich Patrol.”

Every month members of SAVI and other student volunteers prepare 200 sandwiches and other lunch items and deliver them directly to Morning Star Mission in Joliet.