Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

When Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Orlando responded with significant relief efforts. Despite facing their own challenges from the storms, students, teachers, and families came together to support communities in more severely affected areas. The initiatives went beyond mere donations, aiming to teach students about collective action in times of need.

St. Anthony Catholic School in Lakeland led one such initiative. Moved by reports of students sharing a single building due to Hurricane Helene, Sarah Fowler, a fifth-grade teacher, organized a collection drive for essentials like baby supplies and canned goods. Although Hurricane Milton temporarily closed the school, families resumed their contributions once classes restarted. On October 18, Fowler and Kelly Tarte delivered two carloads of donations to a local shelter.

“I was shocked at how many items we collected because, after Milton, many of our families were without power for a few days,” Fowler said. “Some students even experienced flooding in their homes/ neighborhoods and had some damage to their homes. This did not stop them though. Our students and their families completely showed up for us in this donation.”

Other schools across the diocese initiated similar projects. St. James Cathedral School raised $3,500 through events like "No Uniform Today" (NUT) days. St. Teresa Catholic School collaborated with the Knights of Columbus to gather over 400 cans of food on short notice.

“The Knights were completely overwhelmed and very appreciative of the generosity of our families,” said Mary McCrory, principal. “Their actions are a living example of the Catholic spirit — having an overwhelming desire to help those in need, regardless of who they may be."

Santa Fe Catholic High School supported Mulberry Community Academy by organizing a service day on October 18 where they prepared around 1,200 sandwiches and raised funds for additional supplies.

Through these efforts, students learned about compassion and responsibility while contributing positively during a crisis.

“I wanted our students to see the real impact of helping others,” Fowler said. “Service projects like this are about more than just giving items; they teach students about compassion and how small actions can make a big difference.”

Linda Caldwell is director of communications for the Office of Catholic Schools.

By Linda Caldwell