(Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)
MADISON — “It’ a great day to be a Crusader,” said Edgewood High School (EHS) Principal Bob Growney before more than 700 students, staff members, and volunteers headed out for the annual Edgewood in the Community Day.
The annual Homecoming Week event gives students a chance to contribute back to the community through service projects in the Madison area.
The students went to more than 50 sites and put in more than 3,500 volunteer hours.
“Changing the world is a massive challenge,” said senior Andrew Frucht, who gave a keynote address at a liturgy that began the day. “Alone, one of us might be able to make a difference, but it’s nothing compared to the 700 people here.”
Helping the community
One of the service sites was Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) School in Monona.
A team of 14 students spoke to middle school students about what high school is like, performed landscaping work on the school’s playground, and met and talked with elementary school students.
“It’s a great experience,” said sophomore and IHM graduate Mandela Deang. “This school meant a lot to me. The teachers are great, the kids are great, and it’s nice to see how the school changed.”
The playground work involved shoveling and wheel-barrowing new woodchips to the playground and smoothing out the surface near the equipment.
“It feels really good,” said junior Grace Terry. “I can also do something for other people besides just focusing on myself.”
“Helping out in the community is very nice,” said EHS teacher Cary Lahr. “It’s a nice thing for the school to do. It’s out of the ordinary. It’s not everyday teaching.”
Edgewood students volunteered their time at other schools in the Diocese of Madison as well as at places such as Agrace HospiceCare, Catholic Charities Adult Day Center, Meals on Wheels, and Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin.
For more information on Edgewood High School, go to www.edgewoodhs.org