Staten Island / Manhattan, NY – On a frigid night in March, students from St. Peter’s Boys High School and Notre Dame Academy went on a “Midnight Run” in Manhattan.

The young men from St. Peter’s Boys’ and young ladies from Notre Dame Academy teamed up with members of the Mid-Island Rotary Club to ride through the streets of Manhattan at night, handing out warm clothing, food and care packages to the homeless during the service mission.

“The ride back to Staten Island is always filled with togetherness – bonding us together, knowing that those few hours made a difference in some people’s lives," said Ms. Calchi (left).

“The ride back to Staten Island is always filled with togetherness – bonding us together, knowing that those few hours made a difference in some people’s lives,” said Ms. Calchi (left).

“The teens are members of the Interact Club,” said Ms. Pat Calachi, the club’s moderator as well as the moderator of Lasallian Youth. Interact is sponsored by the Rotary Club. Joann Cimino, Interact moderator, and Calchi’s counterpart at Notre Dame Academy, organized the project, with help from Rotary Club members. They reached out to Midnightrun.org, a consortium of more than 150 churches, synagogues, and schools in the New York area distributing clothing, blankets and food to the homeless.

The teens began preparing for the Midnight Run back in October of 2013. Students ran several drives to collect items needed, including personal care items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant, and clothes, including sweat pants, sweatshirts, and socks. In January and February they held a coat drive.  All the clothing items and coats had to be sorted by size, and the toiletries packaged.  Lastly, the teens purchased cold cuts, bread, coffee, soup and snacks from donations collected, and made sandwiches to distribute.

Finally, the group of 14 students from St. Peter’s and 15 students from Notre Dame Academy met at Notre Dame on the 20 degree Saturday night in early March to pack the food, coats and clothes into a van before heading into Manhattan to distribute their donations to the homeless at set stops. Each recipient was to get a package containing a coat, hat, gloves, clothes, toiletries, two sandwiches, drinks and snacks.

Rotarians supplied a truck and transportation. Students began to load the truck at 7 p.m., and by 9 p.m. the Midnight Run was ready to roll.  There were several stops to make. The first two stops were not very busy, but by the time students arrived at the last two stops, those in need started to approach. At one point there were more than 25 people waiting for coats and clothes while the students served up a hot cup of coffee and soup, until their supply was gone. The group arrived back on Staten Island at about 1:30 a.m.

It’s not the first time that Notre Dame and St. Peter’s students have helped the homeless. This is the sixth year Notre Dame has participated.  St. Peter’s signed on three years ago. The evening made an impression on the teens.

“The ride back to Staten Island is always filled with togetherness – bonding us together, knowing that those few hours made a difference in some people’s lives,” said Ms. Calchi.

“The Midnight Run was one of those experiences that wasn’t only helpful to others, but it was also so much fun,” said Notre Dame student Victoria Barbarino. “Giving out food and clothes to those who really need it is what Interact is all about, and I was so happy that I bonded with my friends, while also touching the lives of people who really need it.”

St. Peter’s student, Thomas Jean-Baptiste was also touched by the service trip. “[It was] A great and humbling experience to be able to help and make a positive impact on the lives of those we served,” he said.

“If not me, then who,” asked Travis Manion. “That’s how I looked at it when we participated in the Midnight Run.  If we didn’t help, then who would?