St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School will begin National Catholic Schools Week with a school-wide service project on January 29, 2024. National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States and will be celebrated January 27-February 2, 2024 at St. Anne-Pacelli. “Through charitable works, our students learn empathy, kindness, respect for others and oneself, the ability to distinguish right from wrong, and how to practice values that help them lead good lives and become a positive force in the world,” said St. Anne-Pacelli President Ms. Ronie Collins.

St. Anne-Pacelli’s Viking Outreach Leadership Team (VOLT), a high school service club, is organizing the all-school campaign to collect hygiene items for St. Anne Community Outreach to distribute to the less fortunate in our area. Each school family is being asked to contribute one or more of the following  items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, shampoo, bar soap and feminine products.

Members of VOLT are tasked with ways to educate, inspire and mentor their school community about the needs of St. Anne Community Outreach clients. VOLT members designed hygiene collection bags for each family at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. The bags, once filled with donations, will line the walkway leading to St. Anne Church the morning of school Masses at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on January 29, 2024. St. Anne Church Pastor Fr. Scott Winchel will bless the bags between Masses (approximately 10:30 a.m.) before they are delivered to St. Anne Community Outreach.

The primary mission of St. Anne Community Outreach, a ministry of St. Anne Catholic Church, is to provide emergency food and clothing to Muscogee County residents. If requested, Outreach also offers diapers and hygiene items. When funds are available, Outreach offers utility assistance and runs a rental program focusing on eviction prevention.

“Hygiene products are essential to maintaining good health and, when donated, can provide relief to individuals and families who are struggling financially,” said Director of St. Anne Community Outreach Kelly Tolman.

Located in Columbus, Ga., St. Anne-Pacelli is a college preparatory, age 1 through 12th grade, private school dedicated to giving children opportunities to learn in a safe, supportive environment where they can develop relationships with others and with God.