St. Vincent's School makes care packages

St. Vincent de Paul School

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Courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul School

SALT LAKE CITY — During Catholic Schools Week, Saint Vincent de Paul School student council collected sundry items for the refugee ministry program for Catholic Community Services (CCS). Over 1,654 items and $244 in cash was donated making 40 care bags for refugee families. Tess McTeague, an 8th-grader and student council member at St. Vincent’s, said, "This was a great experience to take part in and help people with items that we take for granted."

Students delivered the bags to Carol Barman, Refugee Ministry Coordinator at Saint Thomas More Parish. She distributed these care bags to other coordinators who have refugee ministries at their parishes, and the remaining packages were delivered to CCS for distribution.

Each care package contained toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, paper towels, deodorant, shampoo, soap and cleaning supplies.

"These items will help refugees who have come to Utah for a better life. Many of these items are not covered with food stamp money, so it really helps refugees who are trying to live on a tight budget," Barman said.