Service

From their first days in elementary school, Loyola students learn the importance of generosity and sharing with others. Loyola students contribute over 10,000 hours of service each year to local and national programs and missions. Service plays an integral role in ensuring the development of the whole child in mind, body, and spirit. 

In elementary grades:

• Students visit the Sisters of SSND and sing for them, make decorations for doors and tables,
• Children in kindergarten through grade 6 are involved in leadership roles and all-school Masses by reading, leading music, offering gifts, and acting as greeters.
• Children are involved in outreach projects during Advent and Lent.  We typically learn about and contribute to a local need (such as Birthright of Mankato, the ECHO Food Shelf, CADA House, MORE center in St Paul) during Advent, by collecting monetary donations or needed items such as personal care supplies, laundry and cleaning supplies, baby clothes, coats, socks and mittens.  
• We learn about and contribute to a global need (such as Kids Against Hunger, Notre Dame Orphanage in Kenya, East Africa, Food for the Poor, Heifer International or natural disaster relief) during the season of Lent.
• Children are often involved in projects that benefit service men and women and veterans and make greeting cards and posters to honor people who have a positive impact on our school or community.  
• Youngsters help to keep our campus neat by picking up sticks on the playground and lawn, keeping our classrooms and hallways neat, and recycling paper in the classroom and paper/food scraps in the cafeteria.
• Students participate in “Stuff-A-Truck” each fall.  Children bring gifts for the ECHO Food Shelf to each monthly birthday Mass.  
• Third-grade students are year-long pen pals with Sisters.  First graders visit local nursing homes, bringing small hand-made tokens and the gift of song, as part of their religion curriculum.
• During Catholic Schools Week, students contribute needed personal items for Project Community Connect.

In secondary grades:

• Students participate in Rake the Town, a community event helping those in need with yard work in the fall.
• Students serve at Mass in their parishes
• Students are asked to help with the SSND Craft Sale
• Loyola student groups ring the bells for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Red Kettle initiative
• Students commit to cleaning up highways in the Mankato area
• Secondary students are encouraged to volunteer at special events such as Rockin’ on the Hill
• Our students participate in Loyola’s annual Christmas Basket Program; they shop for and wrap presents for area Mankato residents in need during the Christmas season
• Many of our students choose service projects of their own to meet their service hour expectations