Parochial institution meets ‘Challenge’ to support needy families

EAST BRUNSWICK — The faculty and students of St. Bartholomew School raised $3,700 for the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen’s Diocese of Ozanam Family Shelter for Women and Children, Edison, by participating in a “Change Spree Challenge” coordinated by second-grade teacher Jennifer Balestrieri and principal Theresa Craig.

The students collected loose change while their teachers spurred them on in a friendly competition among the grade levels to see who could raise the most money.

Craig would announce who the current winner was in her daily morning announcements. The teachers encouraged the students to play the contest like a snowball fight and become champions. Students were told that the money would be used to help families.

St. Bart’s began participating in the challenge last year under the guidance of the former principal, Ann Wierzbicki, as part of the celebration of the diocese’s 40th anniversary. The school decided to do something for the needy, which is how they decided on helping the homeless around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Balestrieri had the idea, which became one of the 40 Acts of Kindness for the celebratory year. In 2021, they school raised $2,700 dollars. This year, a $1,000 surge on the last day of the fundraiser brought it to $3,700.

“I love to help people,” Craig said, “and it’s a way to teach children when they’re very young to do good to others. We started the project on All Saints Day. Everybody can be a saint if you work together and really make an impact.”

Balestrieri asked the staff at the shelter to furnish her with a list of items that were most needed for the 40 families housed there, and items such as toiletries and snacks were at the top of the list. She bought the supplies and this year found that there was extra money, so she also bought hats, scarves and gloves for the adults and children as well as towels, bedsheets, water and diapers.

Last year, Balestrieri also made a cash donation to the challenge. It was a tangible way for the students to see what their efforts were accomplishing when the boxes of deliveries arrived every day and filled Balestrieri’s classroom to overflowing.

“You usually don’t think much of extra change, we just toss it in the bottom of our purses, but we could see how it really made a difference,” Balestrieri said.

“Everybody can do a little bit and together we can do a lot,” Craig said.

Last year, Balestrieri’s own children, Melania, a sixth-grader, and Anthony, a fourth-grader, helped her count the money. In 2021, an eighth-grader donated $50 from his allowance.

Sister Mary Louise Shulas, director, curriculum, diocesan Office of Schools, attended a celebration of the success the fundraiser. Craig said because that Sister Mary Louise was a principal for a long time, she was very understanding.

On Dec. 9, Craig drove her husband’s pickup truck to the school. Balestrieri, Craig, Rachel Januse, a fourth-grade teacher; Stephanie Bianchino, a first-grade teacher; and Migdalia Block, a second-grade teaching assistant; loaded up the supplies with the help of students and the faculty delivered them to the homeless shelter. Ozanam staff members were grateful.

“Participating in the change spree was a fun and exciting experience that helped us spread the Kingdom of God and inspired us to care for others,” said eighth-grader Jake Caravello, an eighth grader said.

“This change spree challenge really taught my class the joy of giving to others while making the competition a fun challenge for everyone,” eighth-grader Giovanna Schwam said.

The faculty plans to continue to hold the fundraiser in the future.