Hill students created myriad ways to serve others while following the most important guideline for people young and old: continue to stay home to slow the spread. Students designed and mailed cards to the residents and staff of local nursing homes and the Daughters of Divine Charity Convent. They volunteered to make and assemble personal protective equipment for local organizations where they had family members who could distribute them. They baked and cooked meals for neighbors in need and colleagues of their parents who work in essential services.
The girls also recognized that service means more than just providing tangible goods, especially in times of social distancing. They showed gratitude through homemade thank you signs and cards to essential workers. They communicated with loved ones, especially grandparents and those who are more isolated. They helped their parents with tutoring and remote learning for their younger siblings. In the hundreds of reflections our students provided following their day of service, a common thread throughout was how purposeful and personally healing it felt to set aside a day to show their generosity of spirit. They might be physically distancing from each other and their communities, but Friday's Service Day was a compelling lesson in the power of coming together, even while apart.
