Dear Parents,

I hope you are having a good week

Before we take our Thanksgiving break next week, I would ask that you review chapter 9 with your child and complete the online review found at the links below.

Chapter 9 – Online Reviews

Grade 1: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g1_s9

Grade 2: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g2_s9

Grade 3: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g3_s9

Grade 4: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g4_s9

Grade 5: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g5_s9

Grade 6: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g6_s9

Grade 7: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g7_s9

Grade 8: Chapter 9 Review: https://isr.loyolapress.com/fg_g8_s9

When your child finishes the online review, the ultimate goal is to send the results of the review to re@standrew.org. I find it best if you put your own email into the online form first and then forward the email that you will receive from Loyola Press to us at re@standrew.org. That way, you’ll know that the results was sent to us.

Looking Ahead

Our next required virtual Parent Session will be Sunday, December 6, 2020 at Noon via Zoom.

Please review the "At-Home Service Project" information below to learn how you and your child can work together on assisting those who are experiencing hunger this holiday season.

We hope you continue to have a good week. If there is any way we can help you, please let us know.

Blessings,

David Heimann, M.Div.

At Home Service Project

Most years in our Religious Education program, we hold a service project to donate food to local food pantries. We’ve struggled a lot with how we can do that safely in the midst of a pandemic, especially now that a new stay-at-home advisory is in place.

Donating canned and shelf-stable items is always a welcome thing to do but there are a few problems with direct food donations. First off, the goods need to be sorted which is something we had our RE students help with in years past. The donated items also arrive in an uneven basis which makes it difficult for the pantries to plan out well-balanced food distribution for their clients.

Truth be known, the best way to help out Chicagoans experiencing food insecurity is to donate money directly to a food pantry such as Lakeview Pantry. Food pantries take inventory of clients and ensure that food is distributed equitably. Food pantries can also buy food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository cheaper than you can buy it from the store and donate to them.

But donating money doesn’t teach children the importance of personal sacrifice and a connection to who is being served. (That’s the learning objective we have at Saint Andrew for your child)

So what should we do this year?

If you personally can be charitable to support those who are experiencing food insecurity, please make a donation.

If you want to teach your child about food insecurity and how they can contribute to ending hunger (as Jesus commanded us to do) then take the following steps.

Have your child help collect groceries at home that are shelf-stable and place them in one well trafficked area of your home so that they can see what they are donating. If you put a Christmas tree, maybe you can have your child help to place them under the tree.
Identify with your child that these gifts are for others who are hungry and explain how their help to give these away is a blessing that you have been given to share.
Set a date to deliver the groceries (and/or household items) to a food pantry such as Lakeview Pantry. Their drop off hours are listed below.
Before packing up the items in your car, say a prayer with your child with the gifts. The prayer can be as simple as “Dear God, may all who receive these gifts know that you love them.” And then pray an “Our Father.”
Pack up the groceries/items and bring them to the pantry. (Don’t forget to wear a mask). Having your child see where the food is going and make the connection helps fulfill the learning objective.
Have a conversation with your child about the experience afterwards and see how they can continue to commit to helping those who are in need.

The nice part about doing this service project is that it doesn’t have to be done this weekend. In fact, food pantries are often overloaded in the week before Thanksgiving. Receiving donations in the week after or even in January or February when their shelves are depleted is a great opportunity to serve. You can start this project now and deliver the groceries when the stay-at-home advisory is lifted.

Information about Lakeview Pantry

Lakeview Pantry — The Hub:
5151 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640

(773) 525-1777

Drop off hours are Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm and Saturday from 11am – 2:30pm.

You can bring donations directly to the address above during the drop off hours. No appointment is needed.