When Heritage Christian Academy made the move to their new home in McCalla, it became a priority to serve their new community and neighbors through ministry partnerships. COVID created some barriers to previously celebrated traditions, but it did not keep the faculty, staff, and students from finding ways to spread joy and Christ’s love throughout the fall semester. The high school and middle students at Heritage chose to focus on serving senior adults. “With COVID-19 being especially dangerous to this population, we realize that the elderly have been shut in and shut away from people. They are lonely and hurting,” said Deborah Clarke, a teacher and upper school sponsor at HCA. These students collected the names and addresses of elderly family members and friends from current Heritage families. They then wrote notes and created cards to mail to these individuals to ensure they feel seen, loved, and cared for. In addition, the high school students partnered with Plantation Manor Nursing Home to shower their residents with special treats. Families helped fill gift bags with special pampering items such as lotions, soaps, sweet treats, magazines, and coloring books which brought joy and excitement to this overlooked population.
The elementary students certainly did their part as well. In December, music teacher, Shelly Manston, coordinated a caroling event that took elementary students through local neighborhoods to bring Christmas joy to shut-ins. Several elementary families helped by bringing in a variety of small gifts which were then sorted and bagged by our theater students for distribution during the caroling caravan. Anna Nichols, art teacher at HCA, led her students in making colorful Christmas cards to top off the gift bags. The parents who accompanied the group were brought to tears during this meaningful field trip. “No matter the obstacles of this past year, it is the desire for our school body to continue to prioritize giving of our time and talents in service to Christ.” Heather Spigner, School Administrator It truly took every student, parent volunteer, staff, and faculty member at Heritage Christian Academy to ensure these service projects were brought to fruition. With a dedication to teach their students to “Connect, Discover, and Respond”, Heritage is living out their mission – to assist parents in their responsibility to equip their children for life through academics and service to Christ.
