Nearly a dozen Oak Knoll Upper School students gave up their lunch period on campus last month to help assemble approximately 100 bagged lunches for Bridges Outreach. The lunches (each including a sandwich, piece of fruit, granola bar, cheese stick and a water bottle) were distributed to the housing insecure in New York City. 

Bridges Outreach ends homelessness through volunteer-driven outreach and individual case management focusing on health, housing, and independence. Bridges helps to form relationships with those experiencing homelessness while meeting their most urgent needs.

Junior Lily Murphy ’22 of Summit, whose theology project is about food access for those living in poverty, said making bagged lunches is a great way to be able to provide food for people who do not have access to it on their own.

“I went to Bridges Outreach in Summit during my freshman year during Oak Knoll’s Service Day and ever since then I have always wanted to become more involved in it,” said Riley Carr ’22 of Morristown.

Katelyn Glory ’22 of Randolph, encouraged others to volunteer because it makes you feel good and it’s so good to know that you’re helping people. 

“Although service opportunities were limited this year because of the pandemic, our students remain committed to helping the community in whatever ways they can,” said Michele Van Kalsbeck, a tenth grade Theology teacher at Oak Knoll, and member of the Campus Ministry team for the Upper School.

“We are all so fortunate to be able to go to a school like Oak Koll and the best way to give back is to participate in organizations like this,” said Grace D’Alessandro ’22 of Maplewood.

See here for more information about student service opportunities at Oak Knoll.