AUGUSTA---Helping students understand the importance of serving others is a central theme of Maine Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 25-31). At St. Michael Catholic School in Augusta, faculty and staff hope that one particular activity will serve as a springboard to a lifetime of giving back.

Students at the school, located on 56 Sewall Street, will be collecting donations during the week to benefit the Augusta Food Bank. On Friday, January 30, the donations will be presented to a representative from the food bank at a school-wide assembly in the gym starting at 1:15 p.m.

“We want our children to understand that small acts of giving are of great value to those in need,” said Denise Levesque, marketing director at St. Michael. “Our students are regularly active in volunteer initiatives throughout the community. The collection will further ignite their spirit, compassion, and understanding of service.”

Established in 1981, the Augusta Food Bank provides a supplemental source of food to individuals and families in need. The food bank serves an average of 350 local households each month.

The service project is part of the annual Maine Catholic Schools Week which celebrates the mission of Catholic Schools: to evangelize students by nourishing faith and encouraging academic excellence while accentuating the importance of community and service in a nurturing environment.

As part of the weeklong celebration, St. Michael Catholic School will host a variety of events, including visits from Bishop Robert P. Deeley on Tuesday, January 27, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Barbara Walsh on Friday, January 30.

For a complete schedule of Maine Catholic Schools Week activities at St. Michael, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/catholic-schools-week-st-michael-school.