Nativity Academy at St. Boniface and Sacred Heart Model School were awarded a $1,000 grant from the National Catholic Sisters Week fund to construct a Little Free Pantry in honor of an Ursuline Sister.
Nine Sacred Heart Model School (SHMS) Student Advisory Board members and eight Nativity Academy Student House Leaders constructed the pantry in Nativity’s fully-equipped Maker Space in January.
On March 11, students from the two schools gathered with school leaders to bless Paula’s Pantry, named in honor of Ursuline Sister Paula Kleine-Kracht. She co-founded Nativity Academy with the late Father Tim Hogan in 2003.
According to an announcement about the event, Sister Kleine-Kracht told the students, “The very reason we wanted to start Nativity and why SMHS exists was to show our concern for others, to bring our gifts to help people and to help them help themselves. This is the biggest honor I have ever had.”
Father Jeffrey Shooner, pastor of St. Boniface Church adjacent to Nativity, blessed the pantry.
He also reminded the students that their efforts to “feed the hungry are a reflection of God’s presence in this world.”
The grant funded the construction of the pantry, including all of the materials. The group will soon determine the pantry’s permanent location and finalize plans for its opening and continued use.
National Catholic Sisters Week was celebrated last week, March 8 to 14.
