CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School granted more than 100 wishes for children and families in need during the holiday season – a record number in the school’s long tradition, amplified this year as part of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary.
Every homeroom adopted a family from among clients served by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte through its food bank and other direct assistance programs. Over two weeks, the homerooms raised more than $13,000 in cash and gifts on wish lists from recipient families.
Students donated from their allowance, earnings and parent gifts. They joined teachers in shopping to fulfill wishes large and small – from Baby Alive dolls and Superhero fatheads, to Ugg boots and Jordan sneakers, to jewelry and a drone with wide-angle lens and 18-minute flight capability.
“(I) REALLY need a laptop for college,” one young woman wished.
Others wished for a drum set, art set, karaoke set.
Tech “toys” included Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Play Station, Fitbits and tablets.
A toddler wished for stuffed animals.
A teenage girl asked for a hair dryer.
A young mother wished for baby books, puzzles and a Baby Einstein Me Reader.
And clothes for Christmas were highly sought after.
“We invited our students into the ministry of service – and they responded in a big way,” said Dr. Lincoln Sigwald, a Charlotte Catholic teacher who, along with the student council, helped coordinate the project for the high school. “It is a blessing to have the opportunity and be in a position to help others, and for our students to be part of the ministry of the Church.”
Charlotte Catholic’s project is among the diocese’s “50 Acts of Charity” initiative underway as part of its yearlong anniversary celebration that ends Jan. 12, 2023. Schools, parishes and ministries across western North Carolina have participated, collecting food, diapers, blood, toiletries, cleaning and school supplies.
Volunteers have also jumped in, repairing a playground, women’s shelter, retreat center, prayer garden and other church and community facilities. And in partnership with Roof Above, Charlotte’s homeless services agency, more than 100 diocesan employees spent two days repainting the living quarters of an apartment complex for men in treatment for substance.
Charlotte Catholic students and staff delivered gifts to their “wish families” unwrapped – so parents could do the honors and acknowledge Santa, his elves, or others. The families are already connected to the diocese through Catholic Charities’ veterans, refugee, homeless and Transition Out of Poverty programs.
Clothes were popular as families wished for pint-sized undershirts, underwear, sweaters, “cozy pajamas,” socks, shoes (size 1), and a winter coat for dad.
Some recipients were all business, such as the 23-year-old mom who hoped for “clothes (size small), pants (size 9), sweatpants (size medium), shoes (size 8), backpack, purse, socks, blouses (size small), set of pots and blender.”
“Our families were overwhelmed by the generosity of Charlotte Catholic, as they are every year,” said
Sylvia Sekle, direct assistance coordinator at Catholic Charities. “Right down to the last little detail, these students put their hearts into this special outreach.”
“What better way to celebrate the anniversary of this diocese,” she said, “than with the gift of giving for these young people, and the granting of wishes for families who too often may go to bed cold and hungry and hurting. We are called to help other people because of our love for Jesus, who tells us: ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for Me.’”
— Catholic News Herald. Provided photos.