Southington Catholic Kids Serving the Neediest

The spirit of inward reflection is accentuated during the season of Lent for many. That spirit does not go unnoticed by many others.  For example, in Southington, the spirit of kindness and giving compassion is a year-round hallmark of the heart of its people. 

Candi Muro (R) with students sorting bags
of Irish Blessings personal articles for homeless. 

A conversation with Candida “Candi” Muro demonstrates her clear enjoyment of her work at Southington Catholic School. As the Grade 6 to 8 Language Arts Teacher, Muro interacts with all the middle school students daily. Mrs. Muro’s passion particularly glows in her role as faculty adviser of the SCS middle school Student Council.

“The students are always eager to take on outreach service projects." Muro said. “After discussion of several optional group service projects recently, they arrived at a consensus to collect a variety of personal articles and distribute them among those who are truly in the greatest need.”

As the students brainstormed for ideas to make the project especially meaningful, their creative juices flowed and they came up with the idea of putting together Blessing Bags for the Homeless. To add a special touch to a seasonal theme of St. Patrick's Day, they decided to name and decorate their personal gifts as “Irish Blessings Bags.”  

Sean Gallager, Melodie Muro and Teacher.
Candi Muro working on Irish Blessings Bags

Muro is in touch with local and area service agencies. She presented options to the kids. They really loved the idea of helping the homeless people who go to First Lutheran Church of the Reformation in New Britain.  

An average attendance at a breakfast each morning is about 100 people. But those numbers increase, particularly in the cold winter.

Girls holding up St. Patrick's Day Irish Blessings
Bags at Southington Catholic School 

And so, the drive to collect personal items for the homeless began. “Parents generously supported this campaign as did family and friends helping in various ways. The children brought in huge quantities of donations, including soap, shampoo, razors, healthy snack foods, band aids and vitamins. Many parents most generously contributed individual gift cards to be used for food and hot beverages at various outlets during these frigid days and nights.” Muro said. “As the items poured into school, the kids really got into the spirit of giving. In addition to the Irish Blessings cards, many wrote their own personal messages. They also decided to mark specific feminine or men’s products as ‘For Her’ or ‘For Him’ which I thought was a very special personal touch.”

Southington Catholic Middle Schoo students sorting out personal gifts

Emily Heath smiling at the hundreds of Irish Blessing Bags
collected for the homeless who have a hot breakfast to get
heir day started at First Lutheran Church in New Britain.

On St. Patrick’s Day, there was a huge pile of 200 Irish Blessings collected and ready for presentation at FLC of the Reformation in New Britain.

Now, the students of SCS have regular food drives for Bread for Life, deliver food donations monthly to Southington Community Services and toys for neediest children at Christmas and help other local charities. 

The comments of a few of the students are remarkably insightful:

“Handing out these blessing bags to people who are in need is truly a blessing. It feels so good to give to other people in our community and in other communities too. The world is one great big family, and we need to help our brothers and sisters.” -Miranda Bunnell (Gr.8).

"I enjoyed making the blessing bags. It made me feel like I am making an impact. Being able to help someone is the best feeling in the world. Giving is important." -Adriana Shea (Gr.8)

"Everyone needs a little love to help them get back on their feet. I’m so happy that I can contribute and make someone smile." -Kira Hanner (Gr. 8)

"I like to help families in need. If I can make someone's day a little brighter, I feel good." -Aaron Mysatyukow (Gr. 6)

"Everyone deserves help, whoever they are and wherever they are. I loved making the blessing bags!" Romi Bagdasarian (Gr.8)

The voices of our kids, reaching out to being the best that they can be in caring about others who need a helping hand. 

Reached for comment, SCS Principal, Eileen Sampiere said:  "The generosity of the extended Southington Catholic School family is inspiring. Our students continue to embrace every charitable outreach and social justice initiative with empathy and dedication. I am confident they will become the strong moral leaders we will need in the future."

Southington Catholic students James Melvin and David Jerman working on Irish Blessings Bags
for homeless people in New Britian. 

Columnist and Southington community service advocate of twenty years, Dick Fortunato, welcomes comments at dick617@gmail.com. or identified comments below.