Service Learning

At Loretto Academy, service learning has always been a major part of our curriculum. Service learning is a method of teaching that integrates community service, teaches responsibility, and brings the community together. Through service learning, we teach our students how important it is to give to those who are less fortunate than them. Through service learning, the students learn that offering time, talent, and prayer are just as important as donating funds.

Each year, classes choose a nonprofit organization or cause in the El Paso and Juarez community and serves them throughout the academic year by volunteering their time, giving donations, and by hosting events. Some projects students have worked on include:

Reynold’s Home

The students collected necessity items such as toilet paper, toiletry items, and cleaning supplies for the homeless parents and children living at the Reynold’s Home. The El Paso Reynold’s Home is an emergency shelter dedicated to helping families transition from homelessness into their own stable home.

El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank

Students have donated over 500 cans of food for the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, which helps feed families facing food insecurity around El Paso. Food from the bank is distributed to different pantries across the city, where families receive food for their households. The students also put together birthday boxes with birthday party essentials including cake ingredients, candles, a birthday card, decorations, and a small gift in hopes of making a child’s birthday special

Immigrant Refugees, Annunciation House, East El Paso Colonias

Students donated new toys for the Christmas Store at El Paso’s Annunciation House, an organization dedicated to proving hospitality, advocacy, and education to the border’s migrants, homeless, and economically vulnerable individuals.

Nazareth Living Care Center

Students visited Nazareth Living Care Center’s elderly, performed on their recorders, made arts and crafts, and earned money to host more activities for the elderly. Nazareth Hall, a rehabilitation center founded by the Sisters of Loretto and adjacent to Loretto Academy, provides health services and housing to the sick and elderly.

Villa Maria

Students helped Villa Maria, a residence for women that helps them transition from crisis to self-sufficiency, by making holiday gifts, cleaning the residence, and hosting a special dinner. As an all-Academy project, students collected toilet paper to donate.

Turkey Drive

The students donated and delivered 113 turkeys, stuffing, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, and other Thanksgiving essentials to the Sacred Heart Community Outreach Program. The program was able to serve 3,000 meals thanks to the community and the students’ hard work.

St. Albert’s School in Pakistan

The students collected their daily spare change from lunch and recess, and collected over $2,000 dollars to donate to St. Albert’s, a Sisters of Loretto School in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The money the students collected provided need-based scholarships, paid for the school teachers, and provided funds for school supplies.

GiGi’s Playhouse

The students planned GiGi’s Playhouse First Annual Christmas Family Festival. Students welcomed individuals with down syndrome and their families to a decorated and festive Hilton-Young Hall, Loretto’s Gym. Gigi’s Playhouse provides free educational and therapeutic programs for kids and adults with down syndrome.

Nun Run

The students planned the annual Nun Run to raise monies for St. Albert’s School in Pakistan. The money collected has provided tables and chairs for students at St. Albert’s.