S.O.S. - Student Outreach to Society

Service to the community is an essential part of the philosophy of the school. The Theology Department sponsors a school-wide service organization called Student Outreach to Society. The school service requirement is 40 hours by graduation; 20 of which are served in Freshman and 20 in Sophomore year. Juniors and Seniors coordinate the service projects. The entire student body and staff participate in several projects. The annual food drives benefit local charities. The Halloween Carnival provides a safe atmosphere for neighboring school children. In the Christmas Giving Program, the school adopts about 20 children from Coal Pit Learning Center and provides them with clothing and toys.
 
S.O.S. sponsors tutoring at neighboring elementary schools including Saint Benedict and Linwood Holton, delivering Meals on Wheels twice a month to shut-ins, and serving food once a month at Freedom House. The students also provide daily lunch service in the cafeteria for the student body. Other students visit Our Lady of Hope and other nursing homes and volunteer at Bon Secours and other hospitals in the area.
 
Saint Gertrude students participate in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk and other community service fund-raisers. They work at the Children's Museum and at local libraries. Students are encouraged to try different types of service so that they will find an area that they enjoy. One of the goals of this program is to encourage life-long volunteerism in our society.