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St. Nicholas students have a concern for the well-being of society.
At St. Nicholas, we help children understand they do not exist apart from society but alongside a greater society. St. Nicholas students understand the struggles and concerns of others, and they learn how their actions and responses can impact those facing such societal issues. At. St. Nicholas we foster a spirit of compassion and generosity, using our talents and resources to effect change and build community.
Each year, our 200+ students participate in a variety of outreaches and in-gatherings.
Some of the initiatives are conducted yearly while some change from year to year.
The following information contains examples of each category.
St. Nicholas School has participated in numerous community outreach programs
over the years. For additional information, click on the title link.
EVERY YEAR
American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart
Food Pantry at Grace Episcopal Church
Giving Trees
St. Jude Math-a-Thon
SPECIAL PROJECT FOR THE YEAR
Amanda's Closet - LeBonheur Toy Closet
Children's Corner at the Community Kitchen
Girl Scouts In-Gathering Toys for Traumatized Children
Heifer International
Locks of Love
Maple Tree Learning Center
Water Wells Project
ONGOING
Libros y San Valentin Book Collection
Recycling Program - Viva Verde!
Viva Verde - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart
Jump Rope for the Heart raises money to help kids get better. The money raised goes to the American Heart Association to help pay for new medicines and treatments to be discovered. Students have fun and learn about how their own hearts work and how to protect them. We participate in this each year as part of our P.E. classes.
Children's Corner at the Community Kitchen
The Community Kitchen serves over 425 meals a day. In addition to the individual homeless men and women who eat at their tables, there are many families who, for whatever reason, gather for a well-balanced and wholesome meal.
Many of these homeless families come to the Community Kitchen building to meet with Department of Human Services and Social Security representatives, to apply for jobs, to do their laundry, to rest briefly from life on the streets. There was a need for the younger children of these families to have a place set aside so they can not only be appropriately engaged while their parents are meeting, but so they can be safe and set apart from the adults. The money collected was used to create a Children’s Corner with storage units, floor cushions, book cases, and crayons. Students also donated gently used puzzles, simple games, books, and toys.
For additional information about this project and to see the before and after photos, click here.
Food Pantry at Grace Episcopal Church
From October 25 through the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, daily collections for the Grace Episcopal Church food pantry are made in chapel. Non-perishables, baby items, paper goods, and cleaning supplies replenish the stock of the pantry. St. Nicholas has undertaken this community outreach for many years, and our contributions are counted on so that Grace Church can continue to assist in the community.
Girl Scouts "In-Gathering" Collection of Stuffed Toys for Traumatized Children
Girl Scouts arranged an "In Gathering" collection of new or gently used stuffed animals to be given to Fire Fighters and EMS workers to use for comforting traumatized children in the local area. Stuffed toys were collected in chapel and many of the students participated. Several containers full of toys were provided to the emergency workers.
Giving Trees
The Episcopal Metropolitan Ministry reaches out to people in Chattanooga, TN, and the surrounding counties that include parts of North Georgia and Northeastern Alabama. Those who come to EMM seek help with basic needs, such as rent and utility payments and food. Other less typical requests are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Our students participate in a program at Christmas called Giving Trees. Our families purchase or donate items intended to fill a “wish list” at Christmas for families served by the EMM. While some of the items would be considered toys, many of the items are basic needs such as clothing. We typically serve 6-8 families which may include 35-40 people.
Heifer International
While we value the in-gatherings of food and materials that we conduct, we treasured the opportunity to make a more lasting impact. Money raised helped to provide livestock such as chickens or goats for a less fortunate family in a poor nation, providing milk and eggs on a continual basis.
Libros y San Valentin Book Collection
Every other year, our Spanish teacher coordinates a book in-gathering in conjunction with a Spanish teacher from a local elementary school. The books are used to assist in teaching English to a largely Hispanic immigrant population.
Locks of Love
Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Several of our girls participated in this effort by growing their hair and then donating it to the organization.
Maple Tree Learning Center
St. Nicholas School celebrated its 50th anniversary by raising money to assist in the establishment of a new preschool in Campbell County, TN called the Maple Tree Children’s Center. We raised money to purchase play equipment. In addition to the money we raised as a school, our junior Girl Scout troop collected toys, books, puzzles, and other items which were also sent to the preschool.
Viva Verde - Live Green!
In addition to the school's ongoing focus on Respect, Responsibility, and the Golden Rule, St. Nicholas students are taking seriously the 3-R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Living Large Locally - Getting to Know Our Local Environment
St. NIcholas students are learning to be aware of and increase participation in Chattanooga's and Hamilton County's green endeavors and spaces and the organizations that support them.
Water Wells Project
Students raised money to build wells in Africa through the efforts of the Episcopal Relief and Development organization. Episcopal Relief and Development reaches more than 2 million people in over 40 countries, supporting local, long-term initiatives that address poverty, hunger, disease, economic development and disaster response where the need is greatest. http://www.etdiocese.net/appalachian/
St. Jude Math-a-Thon
Our students raise money by participating in Math-A-Thon, making it possible for St. Jude to treat patients regardless of a family's ability to pay. The Upper Primary teachers act as coordinators for the rest of the school.
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