Monroeville area EarlyAct Club promotes 'Service Above Self'

Last fall, the Monroeville Rotary partnered with Divine Mercy Academy to create the first EarlyAct Club in the school.

President-elect Diane Milowicki, along with President John Keating and parent-teacher guild member Tina Cuda, wanted to bring EarlyAct to Divine Mercy Academy and presented the idea to the school. This year, the academy added community service projects as a requirement for all students, making EarlyAct Club a great way to get involved and serve the community.

“We want to teach the value of serving others at an early age,” Milowicki said.

The club has approximately 50 students and is divided into two age groups: grades K-3 and 4-8. With the assistance of the rotary, students participated in several projects this year.

So far, they’ve created coloring books for young hospital patients, sang Christmas carols at the Salvation Army bell ringing and made valentines for senior care centers. Recently, students made St. Patrick’s Day placemats for to Meals on Wheels to distribute.

EarlyAct Club’s biggest project so far was the creation of care boxes, which were donated to local animal shelters.

To purchase supplies, students sold squares for a peace quilt during the holiday craft fair. Squares could be purchased for $1, then purchasers decorated the squares with messages of kindness, hope and peace.

Students created care boxes using funds from the craft fair, along with supplies they received from donations during Catholic Schools Week. They collected blankets, toys, pet bowls and food.

Younger EarlyAct members helped by making no-sew fleece blankets. The students assembled, decorated and packed the boxes, which were donated to the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh and the White Oak Animal Safe Haven.

EarlyAct’s current activity is for the Foster Love Project in Wilkinsburg, which provides items to more than 1,000 foster children in the Pittsburgh area.

“We were discussing Lent, and I asked the students ‘What does it mean to really sacrifice?’” Milowicki said.

Students were tasked with donating their favorite game, toy or book. On cards, they wrote down the gift they selected, why they chose the item and what it might mean to the child receiving it. Milowicki emphasized that parents were not to purchase a new gift – students were to choose an item that meant something to them.

“I try to incorporate lessons without it feeling like school,” Milowicki said.

Milowicki attributes EarlyAct’s success to Divine Mercy Academy Principal Nikole Laubham, as well as the parent and teacher sponsors who help organize and facilitate club meetings.

The mission of EarlyAct is to “promote goodwill, understanding and peace through the active participation of its student members so that with committed citizenship and effective leadership they may improve the quality of life of their school, local and global communities.”

“The kids are learning what it means to put service above self, valuable lessons that they can carry forward for a lifetime,” Milowicki said.

EarlyAct Club will be offered to all students again next school year. Any Divine Mercy Academy student is welcome to volunteer, even if they are not an official member.

For more information on Foster Love Project, visit www.fosterloveproject.org.