Holiday Service, Charity Efforts Abound at Bishop Watterson

Improving the lives of others has been the focus of Bishop Watterson’s service efforts during the weeks leading up to Christmas, with weekly collections for the benefit of local charitable organizations. Students and staff collected more than $10,000 and nearly 10,000 items during November and December.

For the first collection, Student Success Stories, students and staff donated a total of $2,473 to help families in Columbus City Schools with uniforms and hygiene items.

Toy Drive was the theme of the second week’s collection, with a total of $4,014 benefitting the St. Lawrence Haven Christmas Store.

St. Francis Center in McArthur, Ohio received 8,500 cans as the result of the third week’s Food Drive and Miracle of Mom’s Memory received 400 items and $2,162 from the fourth collection.

The Bishop Watterson St. Vincent de Paul Club’s annual Caring & Sharing Drive brought in enough soap, shampoo, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, shaving cream, socks and gloves to fill 250 gift bags for Holy Family Soup Kitchen. They were able to also deliver extra toiletries and $300.

Finally, the BWHS Human Rights Club raised $1,600 for Mommies Matter, a group that offers pregnant women one-on-one mentoring as well as financial, emotional and physical support throughout their pregnancies and after delivery.