Carver Center and Sacred Heart partner in service

Volunteers+serving+a+holiday+meal+to+Port+Chester+residents+at+The+Carver+Center.++Courtesy+of%0Acarvercenter.com

Volunteers serving a holiday meal to Port Chester residents at The Carver Center. Courtesy of carvercenter.com

Convent of the Sacred Heart partners with The Carver Center, a local community center, throughout the school year, and especially during the holiday season through the donation of Christmas gifts, food drives, and programs for preschool children.
The Carver Center is the largest and oldest community center in Port Chester, New York that offers a wide range of services for children, teens, senior citizens, and families. According to carvercenter.orgThe Carver Center serves more than 1,300 Port Chester residents each month with its grocery-style food pantry.

Volunteers serving a holiday meal to Port Chester residents at The Carver Center. Courtesy of carvercenter.com
Volunteers serving a holiday meal to Port Chester residents at The Carver Center. Courtesy of
carvercenter.org.

Sacred Heart supports this community center during the holidays by donating gifts for Santa to give to The Carver Center children when they visit Sacred Heart December 18.

Sophomore Kate Ruberti helped wrap presents for the children and enjoys taking part in Christmas community service activities at school.

“I participate in community service with Sacred Heart because I feel it is very important to give back to the school, especially during the holiday season. I am very fortunate for all Sacred Heart has taught me and I’m lucky to be part of such a loving community,” Kate said. 

Upper School Theology teacher and Chair of the Theology Department, Mrs. Phyllis Pregiato, believes that community service is an integral part of Sacred Heart life and that student commitment to service is especially important during the Christmas season.

“The shepherds were told to go out and spread the Good News about the Savior. A group of students did this recently when they sang at local nursing homes. The Wise Men brought gifts for a child. We do this through our gifts for the children at the Carver Center,” Mrs. Pregiato said.

The annual Thanksgiving Food Drive at Sacred Heart is another charitable endeavor that supports the center. This year, from November 7 through November 23, Upper School students donated nonperishable food and gift cards. Throughout the school year, students in the Community Service Club organize similar fundraisers to support the program.

Church of the Resurrection volunteers serving a meal at The Carver Center. Courtesy of resrye.com
Church of the Resurrection volunteers serving a meal at The Carver Center. Courtesy of resrye.com.

This Christmas, Sacred Heart students and their families can volunteer with the Dinner at Noon program, which provides a hot lunch at The Carver Center every Saturday according to helpinghandsrye.org

Volunteers from Church of the Resurrection in Rye, New York organize an annual holiday meal for the Dinner at Noon program. The parish brings a group of ten volunteers to cook and serve a hearty meal to roughly 75 Port Chester citizens according to resrye.com.

Co-coordinator of the Dinner at Noon program for Church of the Resurrection Mrs. Sheila Bugniazet particularly enjoys the sense of community at these events.
 
“My favorite aspect of the program is seeing how the community comes together to help one another.  I also love how the program provides a social outlet for our guests. Some come each week and sit at the same table with the same group of friends,” Mrs. Bugniazet said.
– Emily Coster, Staff Writer