The Power of Community in Action
At St. Paul, service is never a solo effort. Students, parents, teachers, staff, and parishioners join hands throughout the year to create meaningful change in our community and beyond. Our very active parent volunteer board, Parents Working for Children (PWC), spearheads numerous service and outreach activities, working in partnership with our parish outreach team to ensure every effort counts.
This collaborative spirit helps set St. Paul apart. When we work together across grade levels, generations, and roles, we do not just help those in need; we build the kind of community that sustains us all. Our students learn that real impact comes from collective action, and they grow up knowing they have the power to change the world.
Feeding Our Neighbors
Sandwich Builders is one of our most popular monthly events, bringing together volunteers of all ages for an afternoon that is messy, fast-paced, and incredibly fun. Younger students who are not quite ready to make sandwiches write and draw encouraging notes to tuck into bagged lunches, while older students work alongside parents, grandparents, and parishioners in an assembly line of compassion. Together, we assemble and deliver hundreds of lunches every month for those experiencing food insecurity. Even those who cannot attend drop off supplies beforehand, so everyone can chip in something. During Thanksgiving, our community donates groceries for the Westside Thanksgiving Celebration and assembles complete Thanksgiving dinner bags to ensure families in need can celebrate with dignity and abundance. We also prepare Welcome Bags for St. James Inn and Inside Safe, offering comfort and essentials to those transitioning out of homelessness.
Caring for Families in Need
Throughout the year, students organize school supply and toiletry drives for various charities, learning that generosity can take many forms and that even small contributions add up to meaningful support.
Environmental Stewardship
Our commitment to caring for God’s creation brings students and families to the beach for Heal the Bay’s Coastal Clean-Up Day, where we protect our ocean ecosystem while teaching environmental responsibility. Our e-waste and textile drives keep harmful materials out of landfills while supporting organizations that repurpose and recycle responsibly. The school also hosts uniform and ski clothing exchanges, where families drop off gently used items and pick up what they need free of charge. These popular events help parents get the most use out of uniforms and seasonal gear while keeping perfectly good clothing out of landfills—a win for families and the environment alike.
Health & Wellness Initiatives
St. Paul students and families unite at the L.A. Marathon water station, supporting thousands of runners while celebrating the spirit of our Los Angeles community. Our Run/Walk for St. Jude’s Research Hospital is a special day when students create their very own “I love St. Jude” shirts to wear during the event. By designing and wearing these shirts, students bring the conversation about childhood cancer home with them, helping spread awareness and support for children battling life-threatening diseases.
Student-Led Impact
Student leadership flourishes through initiatives that empower young people to identify needs and mobilize their peers. Our Student Council sponsors bake sales, fundraisers, and awareness campaigns throughout the year, while our beloved Dishes for Dollars tradition turns dishwashing into philanthropy. Students wash dishes at school events, collecting tips that they donate to local charities of their choosing; it is service, stewardship, and environmental responsibility rolled into one. Our peer tutoring program connects older students with younger learners after school in the library, building both academic skills and meaningful mentoring relationships across grade levels.
Making an Impact Together
These are not just activities on a list. They are the threads that weave our community together, teaching our students that they have the power to make the world better. At St. Paul the Apostle School, service is not something we do once a year; it is woven into the fabric of who we are. And when we work together, the impact is extraordinary.
