SJA Community
SJA RESPONDS TO DEVASTATING FLOODS Two days into the start of the 2016-2017 academic year, St. Joseph’s Academy closed school, and much of south Louisiana held its collective breath as more than 20 inches of rain fell across the region. The prolonged rainfall would result in unprecedented flooding, as eight rivers reached record flood levels. An estimated 146,000 homes and thousands of businesses were damaged, with some families losing everything. At SJA, school officials quickly convened and asked for community members not affected by the disaster to bring donations of school uniforms, clothing, toiletries, household items and baby supplies to the Activity Center. Faculty and staff members gathered in the gymnasium to sort through the donated items and prepare them for pick up by those in need. Other faculty and staff members compiled lists of families known to have been impacted and worked to come to their immediate assistance. The SJA Disaster Relief Fund was set up, and monetary donations began pouring in. To date, more than $110,000 in cash and another $15,000 in gift cards have been collected and dispersed. Sister Chris Pologa, CSJ, spearheaded additional collection efforts across the country, reaching out to church parishes and schools where she has ministered during her career. Sister school Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland, Ohio, sent an oversized card with messages of support and also provided a monetary donation, as did other Congregation of St. Joseph-sponsored schools: Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, Illinois), St. Joseph’s Academy-St. Louis and Mount St. Joseph Academy (Flourtown, Pennsylvania).
The SJA Activity Center was turned into a collection site as faculty and staff members helped sort donations of school uniforms, clothing, toiletries and baby supplies. Countless SJA families rushed to the aid of family, friends and neighbors. Whether helping to rip out sheetrock and wet carpeting, salvaging precious keepsakes, cooking meals or providing housing for those suddenly homeless, members of the SJA community served the dear neighbor without distinction. “In the aftermath of such widespread devastation, we are humbled by the response of all members of our Academy family to offer much-needed help in the rebuilding of lives,” said SJA President Jan Rhorer Breen. “Through acts of kindness, both known and untold, our community came together and embraced the Academy ideals of sanctity, joy and action.”
Save the Date: Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland pledged their love and support in an oversized greeting card sent after the flood. Holding the card are, left to right, Student Council representatives Isabella McLaughlin ’20, Kate Michel ’19, Student Body President Cora Barhorst ’17, Vice President Madison Hasenkampf ’17, Leanne Livingston ’19 and Carolynn Waller ’20.
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Saturday, March 25, 2017 ACADEMY ARTS CENTER AND BATCHELOR TERRACE Call (225) 388-2270 for more information