Catholic Schools Week 2015: Students at Staten Island's St. Ann's School collect shoes for children in Africa

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A simple pair of shoes -- something that most students take for granted --  is enough to put a smile on the face of a needy child in Africa, as students at St. Ann's School learned Thursday.

Students at the Dongan Hills School collected more than 200 pairs of new and gently-used sneakers and sandals as part of their observance of Catholic Schools Week, that will be donated to the Holy Childhood Missions, an organization that provides education, health-care, food, and other essential services, to children and families in Zimbabwe.

The kids also raised more than $1,000 in donations -- much of it coming from nickels, dimes and quarters collected each day in the classrooms -- that will be split between the Missions and -- closer to home -- the New York Archdiocese's Catholic Charities Feeding Our Neighbors Campaign to replenish local food pantries.

Sister Pauline Chirillo, a member of the Presentation order of nuns, who at one time staffed the school, was on hand Thursday to thank students for their efforts. She talked about the African missions and explained how the donations from St. Ann's students "will put a smile on the faces of children thousands of miles away."

Students were encouraged to learn  their efforts could make a difference.

"It's inspiring to know that our donations helped," said eighth-grader Paul Chionchio. "It shows that by each of us giving a small sacrifice that we can help people in extraordinary ways."

Fifth-grader Isabella Diamantis said she also was encouraged to learn how the donations will help other children. "It's wonderful to know that our donation will make other children smile."

St. Ann's School students have a long tradition -- more than 20 years -- of collecting change and donations for Holy Childhood Missions, explained Principal Bernadette Ficchi. "Today's donations fulfill our Catholic Schools Week theme of faith and service to others," she said.

Catholic Schools Week, which kicked off Sunday, traditionally focuses on the achievements of the borough's Catholic schools, which join in solidarity with schools throughout the Archdiocese of New York, as well as Catholic schools throughout the country, to mark the occasion.

Throughout the week, students participate in special masses, events and fun activities, and individual schools host open houses. A few of the events scheduled for the week at various schools will spill over into next week; they had to be rescheduled because the borough's Catholic schools were closed Tuesday due to the snow.

The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2015 is "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service," according to the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), which organizes the event.

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