Blessed Sacrament students participate in numerous service projects throughout the school year. The Lenten season is a particular time to help students learn about almsgiving through assisting others in the community who may be less fortunate. Families are asked to have their children do chores around the house to earn extra money which they bring in as contributions to Quarters for Kids and Heifer.org. Families are also asked to contribute socks which are donated to Father Woody's Haven of Hope.
Quarters for Kids was started 20 years ago by Noel Cunningham, who discovered that "the cost to feed breakfast to a child living in one of Denver's homeless shelters was $.0.25. He believed that the best people to help raise money to feed homeless children were other children. The premise of this unique campaign has been to educate children about the needs of those less fortunate in our community and let the student's decide how they could help."
Heifer.org is an international aid organization whose mission is "to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth." Donated funds can be earmarked for particular types of livestock and other types of self-sustaining gifts to people in need around the world. Each class at Blessed Sacrament chooses an animal goal and works together to collect enough money to purchase and donate their animal of choice.
Father Woody's Haven of Hope is a day shelter for the homeless operated by the Franciscan Friends of the Poor. Established in 2003, it opened a new facility in 2007 at the corner of 7th Avenue and Lipan Street in Denver. Haven of Hope serves more than 8,000 meals a month and is able to offer assistance of various types to those in need. The shelter has six private showers and provides phone and Internet access to people who otherwise would not have such tools at their disposal. Staff members are able to distribute over-the-counter medicine and provide information about other resources such as employment.
