by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
All Saints Academy students participated in their 32nd annual workathon Oct. 24, reaching their goal of $18,000. As a reward for their hard work, students were given a Halloween party Oct. 30.
Because students also reached a second goal challenge to earn $21,000, they also got to decorate Principal Karl Terhaar with face paint and other festive decor.
“I think workathon is a great service project,” Terhaar said. “Children learn about what it means to be an active member of a community by serving others in need in the community.”
About 200 workathon volunteers worked at 35 job locations, performing jobs such as raking leaves, clearing gardens, washing windows and more to assist elderly and disabled residents of the St. Joseph area.
Leaf Man (aka Principal Terhaar) made visits to job sites to cheer on and encourage volunteers.
About 30 alumni returned to help work at the workathon. These alumni included parents and older siblings of current students.
ASA Administrative Assistant Linda Heinen said that during the workathon, volunteers wanted to help senior citizens or others who may have a disability and were not able to take care of their own yard work. Donations were not required by those who had work projects and people who wanted to donate money to the cause did not need to have jobs to be completed.
Because other St. Cloud area Catholic schools also participated in workathons on the same day this year, the schools emphasized they were doing service for others and have begun calling the day Saints in Service. These schools include the ASA St. Cloud campus, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Francis Xavier, St. Katharine Drexel and St. Mary Help of Christians.
After volunteer workers were finished with their job duties, they were invited to Cathedral High School for lunch and activities provided by members of Cathedral sports teams and activities groups.
The workathon is one of St. Joseph ASA’s largest service projects with a fundraising goal to raise money for the school.
ASA St. Joseph currently has 122 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through sixth grade and 39 preschool students. To donate or for more information, contact ASA at 320-363-7505, ext. 150.
All Saints Academy students participated in their 32nd annual workathon on Oct. 24. As a reward for their hard work, students were given a Halloween party and also got to decorate Principal Karl Terhaar with face paints and more. Workathon volunteers included (front row) Easton Frieler; (middle row, left to right) Hosanna Hinton-Williams, Samantha Roseboom, Glennis Werner and Bree Muske; and (back row) Troy Frieler, Robert Williams, Tim Muske, Shelly Muske and Leaf Man, also known as Principal Terhaar.
