Holy Cross School brings hope, joy to the world
IMG_0084 Holy Cross Birthday Boxes
Making and distributing Birthday Cake Boxes is one of the programs offered through Erin’s Angels of CNY. Holy Cross School gathered and packed over 50 boxes.
Students use Catholic Schools Week to focus on community service
Holy Cross School was a beehive of activity during Catholic Schools Week, which ran from January 24-31. Daily activities took place to celebrate and appreciate the blessings God has given the students and staff. Students dressed for career day, learned about wildlife rehabilitation, went snow tubing and enjoyed a pancake breakfast. The week also included the parish community participating in several service projects.
Joanna Huegel’s second-grade class helped with the “Packed With Love” backpack drive that collects and distributes backpacks and items for children in foster care. In 2024, there were over 650 children in foster care in Onondaga County. The service project is special to Huegel, who said that when she started teaching, she had a number of students in her class who were in foster care. While Huegel always wanted to become involved and advocate for children who needed help during a difficult time in their lives, it was her own experience that strengthened her desire to help. “My husband and I adopted our own daughter from foster care when she was an infant,” said Huegel. “When my daughter came to us, she came with very little and we had very little notice.”
The backpacks contained a small toy, game, coloring book and crayons, a blanket or stuffed animal, hairbrushes, toothbrushes and other essential items. “It’s about bringing comfort and joy to kids who are having a difficult time,” Huegel said. To dispel misunderstandings of what foster care means, Huegel explained to students that families sometimes go through hard times and may need some help. “The kids seem to understand that children may need to live with a foster family who can take care of them and they may have to leave home with a moment’s notice and without all that they need. That’s why they are excited to pack up these items.”
Holy Cross parent Taylor Clark leads the drive. She and her husband are former foster parents. Clark’s children know that many foster children move with their belongings in plastic bags and the family wanted to find a way to give back. Through the generosity of the parish community and funds donated by Regan’s Acts of Kindness founder Kelly Shetsky, donations were collected to help fill over 50 backpacks.
Birthday Cake Boxes
Down the hall, another service project was in full swing. Parents, students and volunteers were assembling Birthday Cake Boxes — a program that helps children who may otherwise not have a birthday celebration. ”Erin’s Angels of CNY” honors the memory of Erin Maxwell, a Phoenix NY child who was starved by her parents as a means of discipline. After her death, and to keep her memory alive, founder and executive director Sheila Dion created the non-profit that now has a food pantry in Phoenix and Camillus. The organization also provides weekend and summer meals to children in need as well as scholarships and other support programs. The birthday boxes contain a cake pan, cake mix, frosting, a can of soda (that can be substituted for oil and eggs), plates, napkins, candles, balloons or a banner. The school created over 50 birthday cake boxes to be distributed in Oswego and Onondaga Counties.
According to the Food Bank, there are over 17,000 food-insecure children in Onondaga County. “Erin’s Angels exists because no child should suffer in silence, wondering where their next meal is coming from,” said Dion. “I want people to have a sense of urgency; to understand that hunger isn’t just a statistic, it’s a daily struggle for children in our community. I want your readers to know that doing something, no matter how small, can make all the difference.”
More information on Erin’s Angels can be found at erinsangels.com.
This Bible passage was evident in the service projects taking place at the school.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1Peter 4:10)
“Holy Cross students and families seek to emulate virtue in all that we do,” Principal Nina Walters said. She is overwhelmed with hope because the students not only understand how to be virtuous, but they are recognizing the virtuous acts of others. “We are living the purpose and mission of Catholic schools — to bring Christ’s grace, hope and joy to the world.”
