On Feb. 1, McNick will take part in its annual Day of Giving as students participate in the annual Penny Day and Blood Drive. The goal for the day is to collect $5,000 through students bringing pennies and other change to classes for their teachers to count before beginning class.
During the past 20 years, over $110,000 has been raised through McNicholas students bringing in money and continues to be a strong tradition in the school. The money raised benefits Nicaragua (Project Education), struggling families through donating to the Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund (CISE), and McNicholas High School (Financial Aid/Scholarships). Sam Roflow, Theology Department Chair and Community Service Coordinator, shared that McNicholas supported St. Mark and St. Joseph elementary schools for the first 12 years, and that “with this money they did many things. One thing we did was to help St. Mark’s buy a large number of books for their library. At St. Joseph’s we helped to build a playground at the school, and we bought bells for a bell choir.”
Another tradition McNicholas is participating in is the Annual Blood Drive. Hoxworth Blood Center will be on campus Friday, Feb. 1, to collect blood donations. Anyone over the age of 16 (with parental consent) is eligible to donate. The Annual Blood Drive plays a significant role in supporting patients’ needs at local hospitals. For the 2018 Blood Drive, 81 Rockets registered, while 50 successfully donated whole blood including 1 double red, resulting in saving a potential 156 lives. “They are giving the gift of life to someone in need,” Pat Farwick, Administrative Assistant, said. Out of the 50 successful donations, 44 of these Rockets were first time donors. Senior McKenna Collins donated for the first time during the 2018 Annual Blood Drive and is prepared to donate again. Collins said, “I think donating blood is important because it’s saving lives.”
“This is the only day of the school year where our actions are totally selfless,” Roflow said.
The McNicholas Milestone 