Hope Totes Bring Smiles - News & Photos - McDonogh School

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Hope Totes Bring Smiles

McDonogh first graders compiled 195 “Hope Totes” consisting of new socks, gloves, water, soap and more, to distribute to homeless men and women throughout Baltimore City. The students wrote personalized cards and attached them to the bags wishing the recipients well. One man received a bag stating, “I hope you get a job soon.” He said he was going to keep the card as his good luck charm. This is one of many community service projects the first graders have participated in to understand the importance of giving back to others. Mary Catherine Irving and other volunteers from the St. Ignatius Church Loaves and Fishes program helped to distribute the kits on Sunday, February 20. Loaves and Fishes feeds the homeless on weekend nights when many soup kitchens are closed. Funding for the project came from Wyndham Hotels, the parent company of Howard Johnson, sponsor of last year's Give Happy Challenge. Mary Catherine Irving's first graders from last year finished second in the national contest, capturing the attention of Wyndham executives.