Students Give Back in Beaverton

Dec. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- Beaverton, Oregon  -On Thursday, December 13th, Pilgrim’s student leadership has chosen to partner with the church's social ministry team in giving to area families in need. Because of more dollars raised than anticipated at their annual Jogathon, students are taking the initiative to give back to their community.  On Thursday morning, they are showing up before school at the Beaverton Fred Meyer's to shop for these families, one of which has thirteen children. Our student leaders are working with the Pilgrim Lutheran Church social ministries team to donate supplies, decorate, and assemble Christmas food boxes as well. Much of this time spent to help local families is happening outside of normal school hours, and some of it means giving up recess.

Our students are running with various giving projects, and spreading the Christmas spirit,” said Mr. Chris Herold, principal.   “Our fourth and fifth graders have created a peanut-butter campaign. They gathered 40 jars of peanut butter and delivered them to the Oregon Food Bank affiliated facility at St. Matthews Lutheran.  These jars will be used to make 884 sandwiches.   Our students used skits, posters, and announcements to gather the goods.”

The school also used some of their Jogathon surplus along with a fall Hope Kit project they had in motion to deliver fifty-five hygiene and school-readiness kits (known as Hope Kits) to Medical Teams International.

“Our student leaders sorted, assembled and delivered the kits last Wednesday to the Tigard headquarters,” added Herold.  “The kits, including basic hygiene or school supplies, will be used both locally and around the world.”

The giving has continued since Thanksgiving, where the school and church families partnered to donate, assemble and distribute Thanksgiving meals for twenty-five families.
The school’s winter offering project includes a donation to Shepherd's Door, a women and children's shelter run by Portland Rescue Mission. Besides providing funding for meals, students have created thirty Christmas placemats to be used at the shelter for needy families.

“There are still more projects planned for the year by these ambitious students,” said Herold. “The World Vision 30 hour Famine, quarterly service projects throughout the community, and a partnership with beautifying and tutoring at Vose Elementary school are all in the works.”

For more information, contact the school office at 503-644-8697.

About Pilgrim Lutheran School
Pilgrim Lutheran School is a Christian day school, serving girls & boys from preschool through eighth grade. Pilgrim Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.  We are dedicated to developing the whole child, and equipping children for life. For more or information call our school office 503-644-8697 or email school.office@pilgrimbeaverton.com.