On Saturday, Aug. 29, the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s destructive landfall, four separate groups of Jesuit students participated in the Citywide Volunteer Day of Service.  Students worked on a landscaping project on Elysian Fields Avenue, at two different local schools (KIPP Renaissance and Pierre A. Capdau Charter), as well as at low-income housing managed by Volunteers for America. In total, current Blue Jays contributed 300 man-hours of volunteer work to the continual rebuilding effort.

Volunteering at Pierre A. Capdau Charter School

A group of about 10 students worked tirelessly at Pierre A. Capdau Charter School to repaint the cafeteria in the festive school colors of blue and gold. The Blue Jays were joined by a volunteer groups from the Church of Latter-Day Saints and the insurance company, Zurich. The Jays helped to give the school an overall and much-needed facelift: the cafeteria, stairwells, and second floor halls received a fresh coat of paint while the playground was refitted with lines for their basketball courts and parking zones. The effort was an instance of Blue Jays helping Blue Jays as the mascot for Capdau is the beloved blue jay as well.

Community Service Project

Over the course of the summer, 273 rising juniors volunteered with 36 agencies both near and far. Read more: Blue Jay Service Project Volunteers Learn About Being Men for Others.