St. Clement of Rome third graders cover The Good Shepherd School in love

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

Third graders at St. Clement of Rome School in Metairie embraced a pre-Thanksgiving service project in which they were asked to do extra chores toward the purchase of blankets to give as early Christmas gifts to students at The Good Shepherd School in New Orleans.

The special drive, called “Spread the Warmth,” collected enough funds to buy 280 blankets – one for every Good Shepherd student.

To make it happen, the St. Clement third graders sprang to action in small ways that added up big:

• The acts of kindness included those performed by Mya Brown, who cared for her sick grandfather by refilling his refrigerator with soft drinks and water, making sure he stayed covered in his blanket and laughing with him.

• Scarlett Barran, who swept, mopped and bathed her family’s three dogs.

• Nicholas Nguyen, who helped with laundry, yard work and used his birthday money and savings to buy over 20 blankets.

• Kyle Svihla, who helped his mother around the house and cared for his younger brother while his father was out of town.

The blankets were delivered to The Good Shepherd School on Dec. 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas. The service project was coordinated by St. Clement of Rome third grade teachers Lauren Mouney and Lezley Devenport.

“It’s always nice to see the generosity of Catholic schools toward other Catholic schools, especially at this time of year,” said Thomas Moran, Good Shepherd’s president. “Knowing that these were young children caring about other young children make the gifts extra special!”