BAY ST. LOUIS, MS (WLOX) -
Students from Our Lady Academy in Bay St. Louis left campus Friday to give back to their community. The young ladies turned their attention to service projects designed to help the less fortunate and also those who devote their lives to protect the community.
The grounds around Seal Pointe, a Habitat housing development, is not a typical classroom setting. But when we stopped by, an important lesson was underway.
"Today is our second Mercy Action Day of Service. It's a day when our girls go out in the community and help," said Tiffany Lindmark, Principal at Our Lady Academy.
Sixty students planted more than 7,000 tulip bulbs around the new development.
"The woman that's living in the house I just planted, she's an elderly woman. She was so excited for us to be here planting in her garden," said Junior Emily Gruzinskias, "and I just can't wait for her to see the flowers when they finally bloom."
The students took part in service projects in five locations in Bay St. Louis and Waveland, picking up trash, cutting weeds and cleaning windows.
"We have a group at OLA doing a car wash for our local heroes: police department, fire department," said OLA Instructor Heather Burleson.
"It's just good to give back and help those that help us," explained Junior Holly Raymond.
And the helping hands are appreciated.
"We're so grateful to the young ladies coming out today and doing what we couldn't by ourselves do. And it will make such a huge difference in this community," said Dave Walker with Habitat Bay-Waveland.
School leaders say that's what Service Day is all about.
"OLA was founded on service. Catherine McAuley was always all about giving service to other people and we are a Mercy School," said Junior Courtney Geroux.
"I know it sounds cliche, but it's all about the love," Gruzinskias said. "I mean, showing the love to the community, showing love to others, seeing how people appreciate the service that we do for them, it just makes my day."
The tulips planted by the girls were donated to the city by the America Response with Love Gardens Organization based in Pennsylvania. The group actually donated 171,000 bulbs to the Bay that will be planted all over the city.
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Sixty students from Our Lady Academy planted more than 7,000 tulip bulbs around Seal Pointe, a Habitat housing development, Friday as part of their 2nd annual Mercy Action Day of Service.
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