A Summer with S.A.L.T.
Members of S.A.L.T. (Serving and Loving Together) worked all summer to help make the world a better place. In June, Campus Ministry visited
Feed My Starving Children to help mix, pack, and box food for the needy. In August, they met again at Our Lady of Angels to visit those living in the retirement home. At Our Lady of Angels, S.A.L.T. members sorted clothing and household donations into boxes, from which local residents of
the retirement home could select items to take home. When these residents came to the donation area, the S.A.L.T. team assisted them with sifting through the vast selection of items to find what they were looking for.
This was not only a summer for returning S.A.L.T. members. Newcomers were welcomed with open arms in the S.A.L.T. social for incoming freshmen. The new recruits got to know one another, as well as returning members, through games in the Benet
gym, a tour of their new high school, and a trip to downtown Naperville for some frozen yogurt.
Also occurring this summer was the monthly game night hosted by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and Western DuPage Special Recreation Association and coordinated by S.A.L.T. board member senior Cole Schram. On a Wednesday night each month, adults with mental illness living in the Naperville area gather to play games and socialize. “This event failed
to garner much attention from volunteers last year, but being the new coordinator, I hope to change that,” remarked Schram, “So far, so good.” The first event took place June 24 and included a picnic by the Riverwalk and
a myriad of games. Benet students came to participate in the festivities and aided the big success. The next game night on July 15 proved to be just as fun. “I hope to continue the momentum as the school year ramps up, so invite your friends and go relax and have fun at game night,” Schram says.
When they weren’t participating in numerous service projects over the summer, this year’s S.A.L.T. senior board members, Elisabeth Abdoo, Cole Schram, and Nick Benak, have also been working with Mrs. Jacki Bedore to prepare service projects for the coming school year.
The S.A.L.T. board retreat took place on Friday, August 7. Board members spent the afternoon at Benet getting to know one another, and in the evening, finished with a bonfire and an affirmation prayer to give the year a positive start. The board members also discussed plans for the coming school year. “I’m excited to work with a new group of people, and see how God is going to work through us to grow S.A.L.T. this year,” said Abdoo.
If this summer is any indication of how the school year is going to go, then it’s a safe prediction that this year will be one for the books.
