by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph Catholic School’s 35th annual Workathon day will take place Saturday, Oct. 27.
For many years, the school’s students have participated in the event to offer services such as raking leaves, clearing gardens, clearing brush and moving wood to assist elderly and disabled residents of the St. Joseph area, as well as raise money for their school.
Principal Karl Terhaar said the Workathon is one of the largest service projects in the area. Typically, about 200 volunteers donate more than 600 volunteer hours to clean the yards of about 40 homes.
This year’s goal is to raise $21,000. If students do so, they will be able to celebrate with a Halloween Carnival.
If students are able to raise more than $24,000, they will be able to decorate principal Terhaar as an ice cream sundae.
“Workathon not only benefits the school financially but more importantly it teaches the students the value of doing service for others,” Terhaar said.
Donations are not required by those who have work projects and people who want to donate money to the cause do not need to have jobs to be completed.
Organizers are requesting people who have submitted a request to have their yards raked to please mow their lawns before the event to make the raking tasks easier for students and other volunteers.
Terhaar said funds raised from the event go to help pay for teachers’ and staffs’ salaries.
To donate or for more information, contact the school at 320-363-7505, ext. 150.
Volunteers at a previous Workathon help rake leaves. This year’s St. Joseph Catholic School Workathon event will be Saturday, Oct. 27.
