Published on August 12, 2016
Each summer, Catholic Charities and the Office of Religious Education of the Archdiocese of New Orleans offer volunteer opportunities for high school aged teenagers through SERVE: Students Engaging in Reflective Volunteer Experiences. SERVE is an opportunity for high school students to give back to the community and achieve the service hours required by many parochial high schools by signing up for 12-40 hours of volunteering at various sites throughout the Archdiocese including Second Harvest Food Bank and summer youth camps.
This summer, 45 student volunteers (including nine return volunteers) from 17 different schools provided 1,376 volunteer hours. SERVE students volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank sorting food and vegetables and worked at summer camps providing academic support and tutoring, playing with campers, and serving as positive influences and role models. Favorite activities for this summer’s SERVE volunteers included: interacting with the youth, playing basketball, and going on a field trip to the swamp. Our SERVE students made a great impact this year by helping youth connect positively and giving to others through fun and interaction, teaching the meaning of being a Catholic for others. Thank you, SERVE students!