Giving Back: SCC school family comes together for flood relief
Published 12:11 am Wednesday, September 7, 2016
- St. Charles Catholic High School students fill sandbags for residents. Pictured, from left, are Kelly Campbell, Wesley Melancon, T.J. Lasseigne and Sydney Pfister.
LAPLACE — St. Charles Catholic High School students recently filled sand bags, bagged lunches, delivered water and performed manual labor in the name of flood recovery in Southeast Louisiana.
Courtney Millet, SCC’s director of instruction, said the school links academics to service learning by involving students in community needs, adding students recently worked face-to-face with those who needed assistance during the recent flooding.
More than 50 students assisted in filling sand bags after St. Charles Catholic High School sent out an email to all students to help those in the need.
Students filled hundreds of bags to assist those in the community, school leaders said.
Kemper Todd, head basketball coach and math teacher, said his players and two moms made more than 150 bagged lunches for those in need Aug. 26.
Comets basketball players spend a day in Denham Springs assisting flood victims. Serving others, from left, were Jordan Arceneaux, Christian Montz, Owen Bourgeois, Jordan Garner, Leslie Kenny of Denham Springs, Tommy Charles, Austin Reed, Sam Delaney, coach Kemper Todd and Joe Mamou.
On Aug. 27, the boys loaded everything onto a school bus and headed to Denham Springs, where they delivered lunches and cold water to anyone in need while looking for anyone needing physical labor.
“It did not take very long, as they found a huge need in the first subdivision in which they stopped,” Millet said. “The basketball players gloved up, donned masks and began working at the home of a single mom named Leslie Kenny, whose house took in four feet of water.”
The team had her house completely gutted and ready for rebuilding in approximately four hours. Todd said it was an amazing experience.
“However, it was very moving to see all of the groups that came to town to lend a helping hand,” he said. “In fact, we met a football team from Arkansas who helped us deliver our food and supplies. Turns out, the head coach had spent many years in our state and knew of St. Charles Catholic High School. Small world! God is good all the time.”
In an effort to provide supplies to flood victims, the Student Council and SCC alumnus and St. John Councilman Michael Wright recently sponsored a collection of goods for flood victims in nearby parishes.
Students donated hundreds of items, which were delivered to those in need.
Wright said words can’t describe how grateful the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care are for the generosity given by fellow Comets.
“On behalf of the entire Gulf Coast Team, I want to say thank you to each and every one of you,” Wright said.
SCC Principal Andrew Cupit said the students were generous and enthusiastic.
“It is times like this that the faith and love of the students at SCC shines through to warm the hearts of all,” Cupit said.
Student Council members sponsored a collection for flood victims. Those who helped include, from left, front row, Alexis Porche, Sadie Kelly, Kelly Campbell, middle row, Lillie Smith, Shelby St. Pierre, Callie Henry, Maddie Cochran, Mallory Brignac, top row, Claude Hill, Councilman Michael Wright and Angelo Marconi with Fresenius Kidney Care.
