In accordance with "Validating the Vision" and reinforcing our mission of "bringing about union and reconciliation by awakening in our community an awareness of the unconditional love God has for all people," Sacred Heart has established a community service requirement. Every student must complete 20 hours of community service and those students who are members of the National Honor Society or any other Honor Society must do an additional 10 hours of service.
Typically done over the summer, after school or on weekends, community service is defined as a volunteer activity undertaken for the good of others. No paid work or service can be used to fulfill the requirement.
"Living the mission" in the community
SHA students embrace this requirement to an extraordinary extent. Each young women has her own story of "living the CSJ mission" and personal growth as a result of her work in the community. Most remarkably, the great majority of students far exceed the minimum service requirements - with some devoting well over 200 hours to their volunteer activity of choice.
Our young women can be found teaching religious education to parish elementary school students... providing support for healthcare professionals at local hospitals and caregivers at nursing homes... helping out at local food pantries and other charitable groups, and doing so much more. Volunteers at Camp Anchor, a summer camp for special needs children in Lido Beach, report having experiences working with the developmentally disabled that will last their lifetime.
SHA students have also become a mainstay of support for Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County. Crews of our young women can regularly be found on Habitat's project sites assisting volunteers as they build affordable housing for deserving Nassau County families.