Spellman Students Connect with Cushing

Cushing relies on the support of its volunteers, who contribute their unique talents, skills and knowledge to enhance day-to-day operations, whether working directly with participants, or behind the scenes. 

Students from Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton have come to appreciate just that. As part of the school’s community service program, every high school student has the opportunity to serve at various nonprofits. Students are assigned an agency and spend the school day learning and serving at food banks and pantries, nursing homes, adult care centers, farms, elementary schools, soup kitchens and more.

Last spring, a group of Cardinal Spellman students worked to get Cushing’s MarketPlace gardens, greenhouse and garden shop ready for the season. Another group joined Cushing participants in organizing and bagging more than 3,000 toys generously donated by the TJX Companies for the Hanover Fire Department’s Toys for Tots drive. 

Cardinal Spellman partners with almost 20 agencies. The school first started sending volunteers to Cushing in 2020, and approximately 10-12 students go to each site. 

“A lot of schools might mandate service hours on your own time, but what makes this unique is that you’re doing these works of mercy alongside your peers and your teachers,” said Jason Deramo, former dean of students and director of campus ministry at Cardinal Spellman. 

Deramo said it’s also an opportunity for students to learn about the many agencies around them that do so much for people in need. 

“They’re coming away from the experience with this knowledge of what this agency does every day,” he said. “Each year, they’re experiencing a different type of organization, so it’s giving them a lot of exposure.” 

He said the opportunity to volunteer at Cushing is always a student favorite.