St. Ursula Academy students recently had the chance to put their blossoming Spanish-speaking skills to use while giving back to Cincinnati’s Hispanic and Latino community.
The students volunteered at Su Casa Hispanic Center on Aug. 28, assembling 220 kits filled with hygiene items and cleaning products for the Fall Health Fair. Sara Obando, Health Promotion Supervisor, welcomed the students and gave them an overview of Su Casa’s services — all in Spanish.
“They did great in their Spanish. They are very smart!” says Sara, who is originally from Peru. “It was wonderful talking to these young ladies. I saw on their faces that they felt very happy practicing the language they are learning.”
Their time at Catholic Charities also helped the students learn more about parts of the community they might not normally see. Sara hopes experiences that expose young people to this larger reality will empower them to develop empathy and understanding for people whose daily lives look very different from their own.
“For me, it’s very important that they learn about immigration and people in need coming to Cincinnati and all the services Su Casa offers to support this community,” Sara says.
The St. Ursula students expressed a desire to continue helping however they can. Mary Anne Bressler, Parish & Community Engagement Coordinator, is always looking to create more ways to engage young people, whether on-site at Catholic Charities or through activities students can organize and participate in independently, like clothing or school supply drives.
“I’m always excited when schools reach out,” Mary Anne says. “We want to make it as easy as possible for younger people to support our mission. The more we see them, the more of an imprint we make on the students.”