Commitment to Service

The hallmark of a Sacred Heart Academy student is her spirit of service, which has manifested itself in numerous ways throughout the years. Although records of service were not kept until the 1930s, given the values upon which the Academy is founded, we are confident our students were serving others long before that.

1932

Students organize a clothing and penny collection drive to help the poor in their community. A total of $11, a large sum during the Great Depression, is raised.

1940s

Throughout the decade, students and teachers collect food, toys and clothing for families in need at Mt. Carmel Church, located near the Buffalo waterfront. Students also collect truckloads of goods to distribute to needy families at Christmas parties.

1940s-1960s

Members of the Sodality of the Blessed Mother and the Third Order of St. Francis engage in a myriad of service projects throughout the community. Examples of the students’ service to others include visiting institutionalized women and assisting in Sunday religious services for hospitalized veterans.

1992

The Footprints Service Program begins, asking each student to dedicate a specified number of hours in Christian service to others and to reflect upon her experience.

2006

The annual Day of SHAring begins, uniting the entire Academy community, including students, faculty, staff, parents and alumnae, in a day of outreach to more than 50 social service agencies and community groups.

Present

Many student clubs and extracurricular activities focus on service to others, further demonstrating our students’ commitment to our foundresses’ values:

• The Family to Family Christmas Project allows SHA families to “adopt” a family in need for Christmas.
• Students sponsor and organize an annual Christmas party for children with Down Syndrome.
• Cooking for a Cause selects nonprofit organizations to benefit from its culinary creations.
• The Coalition for Afghanistan Girls’ Schools and Amnesty International study the challenges faced by third-world nations and the strategies needed to effect change.