At Mount Carmel High School, Sophomore Impact Week is not just about getting outside of the classroom; it’s about making a difference. For one week, MC sophomores travel all around the Chicagoland area, volunteering at food pantries, food banks, and community organizations, learning firsthand the importance of poverty and hunger.

Students visited organizations such as the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Feed My Starving Children, participating in activities to help those in need. According to Mr. John Stimler, one of the organizers of Impact Week, the goal is to highlight the social teachings of the Catholic Church and to encourage students to think beyond themselves. 

“I think it’s to highlight some aspect of Catholic social teaching and to raise our awareness that the gospel calls us to do something in terms of injustices that exist in the world,” Mr. Stimler explained.

One of the most visited locations during the week was the Foodbank of Northwest Indiana. Sophomore, Nick Gall reflected on his time there as a meaningful experience. 

“My favorite part was going to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. We helped pack food for people into boxes,” Gall said. “This experience made me realize how people who volunteer can really make a difference in helping people.”

Many students related to Gall, saying how working in small groups helped them build stronger friendships while also serving the community. Sophomore Jack O’Neill emphasized the greater impact of the week.

“I think that the main goal of Sophomore Impact Week is to make a difference and help the ones who are struggling and need it,” O’Neill said. “I think that we have been very successful this week by the ways that we have made such a big impact on so many people.”

Another student, Brayden Petro, enjoyed the opportunity to help others and bond with classmates. 

“I really enjoyed working with small groups because it helped me grow a better relationship with my friends and people that I didn’t really talk to before,” Petro said. “I think that my experience changed my perspective because I realized that I was doing it for a good cause and for people that don’t get to live the life that most people live.”

Mr. Stimler stressed that the lessons from Impact Week go beyond just the immediate work being done. He explained that it is essential to raise awareness about these worldwide issues, specifically poverty and hunger. 

“It’s that challenge to think about poverty and hunger, to raise awareness of these issues, and then to find out: what can I do to ease the struggles of poverty and hunger in our region and around the world?” Mr. Stimler said. “Raising awareness is the first step to understanding how the system works and what alternatives exist.”

The importance of food pantries such as St. James and St. Sabina and community service organizations was really focused on throughout the week. 

“All the smaller pantries deal with neighborhood issues, people right here in our community struggling for food,” Mr. Stimler said. “We also send students to clothing organizations that help families struggling to provide decent clothes for their children and themselves.”

For many students, the most rewarding part of the experience was the realization that their efforts during the week had a great impact on others.

“The most rewarding part of Sophomore Impact Week is knowing that I am putting a smile on someone else’s face, knowing I have made a difference,” O’Neill said. “I have taken away the fact of knowing that anyone can make a difference in the world.” 

Petro agreed, sharing how his perspective on service changed. “My favorite part was probably hanging out with friends and realizing I was doing a good deed for the community,” he said.

Gall also noted that working alongside classmates in an impactful way made the week memorable. 

“I enjoyed my small group,” he said. “It made me get to know people I didn’t know better.”

Mr. Stimler believes that Sophomore Impact Week has long-term benefits, not just for the community but for the students themselves. He hopes that the experience will motivate them to continue serving others throughout their lives.

“We know we’re making an impact on the community, but more importantly, we hope to change our students,” he said. “Hopefully, we’re planting a seed that will grow, and somewhere down the road, some of them will do amazing things based on what they’ve experienced here.” For the students of MC, Sophomore Impact Week was more than just a series of field trips. It was an eye-opening experience that showed the power of service and the importance of helping others.