At the end of each school year, students are asked to donate any school supplies that are still in good shape. The supplies are sorted and bagged by 7th graders. Donations are then dropped off at a local community member’s home where other area schools have also contributed supplies. Supplies continue to be sorted and boxed and finally delivered to less privileged schools.

The second-grade children participate in a very special service project at Christmas time by collecting baby items to be distributed to Care Net.

Care Net is a Christian organization in Downers Grove that cares for women and young children experiencing financial difficulties or personal crisis. In particular, they assist women in choosing life and caring for their newborns.

Donation of any baby care items, in any quantity, are greatly appreciated. On a December morning, the second graders gather for a prayer service in our school chapel, to ask for God’s blessings for the babies and their mothers who will receive their gifts, as well as for the children in our own families. They then return to their classrooms for a simple breakfast with their classmates.

We call this project “Breakfast With Baby Jesus.” In years past we have found that the children feel a special connection, not only to the Baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, but also to the babies who need someone to help care for them. This project has become a very special holiday tradition here at SJC.