Carmel students help tornado-stricken town
While many high school students enjoyed the opportunity to relax and sleep in during Christmas break, 50 students from Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein gave up a day to travel to downstate Washington, Ill., to assist those impacted by November’s devastating tornadoes.
At 5 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 50 students and six teachers and coaches departed from Carmel en route to Washington. The Carmel team included 32 members of the school’s football team and 18 members of the school’s social justice club.
“As usual with experiences like this, we went there to help, serve and donate our time and talents, but we came away with much more than we could have ever given,” said Carmel’s Michael Fitzgibbons, who coordinated the trip.
“I am humbled by the spirit and courage of the folks in Washington. And also, of course, by the willingness of our young people to jump in on their own time and help.”
While the weather conditions prevented the students from doing outdoor work while in Washington, they were busy from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day working indoors. Once arriving in Washington, they celebrated Mass at 8:15 a.m. at St. Patrick Church.
Following Mass, the Carmel team took a tour of the devastation before heading to the Sunnyside Distribution Center, where they worked to organize and distribute items in a free grocery store that has been established for residents affected by the disaster.
Carmel senior Natalie Santoro, 17, of Mundelein is co-president of the Carmel Social Justice Club and was among the students who traveled to Washington. She noted that students were surprised with the conditions in Washington when they arrived.
“It was shocking,” said Santoro. “After touring the town, the whole bus went silent. It was so hard to look at.”
Santoro noted that the Carmel team helped on a day when the distribution center received its largest delivery of donations to date.
Santoro noted that the idea for the trip came from a member of the school’s football team, which partnered with the social justice club for the trip.
“It was great that so many students were able to go and wanted to give up a day of break to help,” she said.