By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL — Christmas is a time for giving, but for students at St. Margaret Mary School, giving is a year-round commitment.
There were over 60 students from St. Margaret Mary School who assembled almost 40 Christmas food boxes at the Community Christian Concern/men’s transitional housing program this month.
Through a grant, the sixth grade class has been helping the homeless each month at the CCC to meet a specific need. The grant came from the Brown Foundation, and the purpose of that foundation is to distribute funds for public charitable purposes, principally for support, encouragement and assistance to education, the arts and community service. The Brown Foundation, Inc. was founded in July 1951 by Herman and Margarett Root Brown and George R. and Alice Pratt Brown. Since its inception it has awarded more than $1.4 billion in grants through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. Of these funds, approximately 80% were awarded within the State of Texas with special emphasis on the City of Houston.
“It really is a great example of coming together as the hands and feet of Christ in serving those in need,” CCC Director Debbie Schimmeck said. “It was great having 67 sixth graders tour our facility here at the CCC and interested in their community.”
Since the beginning of the school year in August, the students have packaged and purchased with the grant fund diapers/wipes, and hygiene kits. This month, they are putting together a camping package for the homeless on the street, complete of a tent, blanket, pillows, and tarps.
“I didn’t expect a turn out like this,” Schimmeck said of the over 60 students who showed up to learn and help.
The students not only helped to box the Christmas food boxes but they also went over to Mt. Olive Church to feed lunch to the homeless.
The Community Christian Concern will hold its distribution food day on Friday, Dec. 18 beginning at 9 a.m. and running until 12 noon. There will be 250 families in Slidell that will receive boxes from Community Christian Concern.
“People have to be pre-registered to receive a box, and there will be a line outside starting at 8 a.m.,” Schimmeck said.
For more information, the CCC is located at 2515 Carey Street and can be reached by calling 985-646-0357.