Good Shepherd CES surpasses anniversary goal with 27 acts of service

June 24, 2026

When Good Shepherd Catholic Elementary School marked its 25th anniversary in October 2025, the school community set an ambitious goal: complete 25 projects of service and solidarity throughout the school year.

Ten months later, students and staff not only achieved that goal—they surpassed it, completing an impressive 27 initiatives that made a meaningful difference in the community.

Inspired by the call to be “the hands and feet of Jesus,” students embraced opportunities to serve others through projects that supported people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, illness, and social isolation. They also participated in activities that promoted understanding, inclusion, and solidarity through events such as Christmas Around the World and Black History Month celebrations.

What made the initiatives especially impactful was the active role students played throughout the process. From selecting causes and planning campaigns to creating promotional materials, delivering announcements, sorting donations, tracking contributions, and coordinating with community partners, students took ownership of their service learning experiences and witnessed firsthand the positive impact they could have on others.

Among the many accomplishments, Good Shepherd students and staff:

• Established a breakfast program to support students.
• Donated 3,404 pounds of clothing through the Kidney Clothes program.
• Decorated more than 500 coffee sleeves with messages of kindness for World Kindness Day.
• Purchased 26 warm blankets for clients supported by Front Porch Mentors.
• Created 50 Christmas placemats for Meals on Wheels recipients.
• Visited Whitecliffe Retirement Home to sing Christmas carols with residents.
• Donated blood.
• Volunteered in the kitchen and dining room at Durham Outlook for the Needy.
• Created inspirational bookmarks for clients of the Clarington Public Library on Random Acts of Kindness Day.
• Collected more than 400 pairs of gently used shoes for Soles4Souls Canada.
• Planted a pollinator garden.
• Recycled more than 100 pairs of eyeglasses to support underserved communities around the world.
• Assisted neighbours by collecting blue and green bins on garbage day.

Throughout the year, students found joy in seeing the difference their efforts made. Whether sharing smiles with seniors, spreading kindness through handwritten messages, or supporting local organizations, each project helped strengthen connections within the community.

The school also benefited from the support of community volunteers, including Michelle Wight, whose stories and involvement helped students better understand the impact of their contributions, especially when they could not directly witness the results of their efforts.

While the anniversary year may be coming to a close, the lessons learned through these projects will continue long after. Through service, compassion, and solidarity, Good Shepherd CES students have demonstrated that even small acts of kindness can create lasting change—and have laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to serving others.