FAIRFIELD– On “PB&J Fridays” each month, students from Saint Catherine Academy in Fairfield gather with volunteers to prepare 300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Thomas Merton House in Bridgeport.
After the sandwiches are packaged, staff and students deliver them to Merton Center, a house of hospitality sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
In addition to building skills and working as a team, students gain a sense of purpose and satisfaction in helping others.
Going on its 14th year, the PB&J community service project is coordinated by members of the Order of Malta. The Academy is part of Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs.
The mission of St. Catherine Center is rooted in Gospel values that affirm the dignity of every person. The center provides unified pastoral and educational support for individuals with disabilities and serves as a centralized resource for the diocesan community.
Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs includes Saint Catherine Academy, a state-approved, private special education school in Fairfield, Conn., serving students ages 5-21 of all faiths who are impacted with autism, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. It also includes the Adult Services Program, approved by the Department of Developmental Services, which offers opportunities for adults with disabilities to learn new skills and participate in vocational and community-based activities.
The Center, located at 760 Tahmore Drive in Fairfield, serves as a resource for faith formation and inclusion for parishes throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport. For more information, visit the website at StCatherineCenter.org, call 203-540-5381, or email info@stcatherinecenter.org.
