Cardinal Mooney Students Partner with Suncoast Charities to Support Children First Families

In a powerful display of community compassion and teamwork, students from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School joined forces with Suncoast Charities for Children to host a donation drive benefiting Children First, Sarasota County’s exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services.
 
The effort collected an incredible 500 outfits, 472 pairs of underwear, 975 pairs of socks, 31 pairs of shoes, 337 books, 5,175 diapers, and more than 39,000 baby wipes, all of which will directly support local children and families served by Children First.
 
“This project really brought everyone together,” said 17-year-old senior Konnor, one of the student leaders for the House of Lumen. “It was a great competition that motivated us to collect as many items as we could, but at the end of the day, it was all about community bringing everyone closer and supporting families who need it most.”
 
The initiative was part of Cardinal Mooney’s new house system, which encourages student leadership and service through friendly competition. “We had a contest between all the houses to see who could donate the most items,” said Ryan, a math and TV production teacher at Cardinal Mooney. “Our students were incredibly generous - they kept bringing in items nonstop for two weeks, even after the deadline. It really shows their heart for helping others.”
 
At multiple sites across Sarasota, Venice, and North Port, Children First provides comprehensive services to hundreds of children from low-income backgrounds, ages birth to five, and their families each year. These include early childhood education, nutrition, emotional and behavioral support, and family strengthening programs that empower parents and caregivers toward long-term stability and success.
 
“Acts of kindness like this remind us what community truly means,” said Philip Tavill, President & CEO of Children First. “We are so grateful to Cardinal Mooney and Suncoast Charities for Children for their incredible generosity and partnership.”