Bishop Dunne Student Council Members Serve Others

The motto for Bishop Dunne this school year is “Dunne for Others” and the student council has been busy working to help those in the community.

For the sixth consecutive year the Student Council has sponsored a coat drive, with the coats going to the Empowerment Center on Zang Boulevard to be handed on to people who don’t have one. Last year the school donated over 200 warm coats for others and this year the coats donation box has been full all month.

“It’s great that so many of our students realize that a warm coat can make all the difference to someone standing on the bus stop, waiting for a ride,” said Mark Clifford, Student Council Moderator.

This year the Student Council is also gathering toys and presents for foster children in the CPS system. The council members agreed to provide for 20 children with just a few weeks to gather items on the list.

Senior Marcos Acosta, President of the Executive Board, says “We realize how fortunate and blessed we are to have a loving family, and a good school to attend with caring teachers, so we hope to bring some of that joy we receive to others.”

Hundreds of items were sent off with a CPS employee on Thursday Dec. 18, which included gift cards to Target and local restaurants, pajamas, toys, snacks, and diapers for the littlest children on the list. Many of the children asked for simple items most of us take for granted, like a toothbrush or pajamas with the Disney “Frozen” theme.

Acosta says he’ll have a typical Christmas holiday, spending time with family - with his big brother Carlos, BD class of 2013, back from College at Texas Tech - attending Christmas Eve Mass, and travelling to see his extended family in San Antonio. “I understand that not everybody has a loving family that supports them, so I am really happy to help others at this time of year.”

Next semester the Student Council will sponsor “Manuary,” raising money for Cancer research by allowing the gentlemen on campus to go without shaving by paying a fee, and “Homeless for a Night,” teaching students by spending the night out in the elements with little food and only a box for shelter, along with other service projects throughout the spring.

For more information on Bishop Dunne see the school’s website: www.bdcs.org or contact moderator Mark Clifford at mclifford@bdcs.org