(Riverton, WY) – Over 60 preschool through 5th-grade students at St. Margaret’s Catholic Elementary School in Riverton recently participated in a school-wide service effort to give back to the community.
During Catholic Schools Week at the end of January, the students partnered with 13 local organizations and agencies across the Riverton area, including: Foundations for Nations Food Pantry, Homestead Living, Open Hand Ranch, the Riverton Senior Citizens Center, the Riverton Chamber of Commerce, Fremont Local Market, and multiple first responder agencies: Riverton Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Ambulance, Fremont County Fire Protection District, Riverton Volunteer Fire Department, and Riverton Search and Rescue.
Preschool students also participated by creating Valentines for local veterans.
“We really ramp up service projects during Catholic Schools Week, but as a school, we focus on service and charity all the time,” school Principal Meagan Mosbrucker shared with County 10. “It is intentionally woven into the life of our school, so students across grade levels participate together. We want students to see service not as an add-on, but as a natural response to being part of a community.”
Here’s what students did at each location to help give back:
- Foundations for Nations Food Pantry – unloading produce and stocking shelves
- Homestead Living – spending time with residents and assisting with Bingo
- Open Hand Ranch – cleaning stalls, storm cleanup, and spreading mulch, learned about their ministry
- Riverton Senior Citizens Center – playing board and card games with seniors
- Riverton Chamber of Commerce – organizing and light cleaning of the facility
- Fremont Local Market – cleaning, stocking, and general assistance, made signs to attract visitors during Ron Thon to come get healthy local snacks
They also delivered “goodie plates” to the Riverton Police Department, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Ambulance, the Fremont County Fire Protection District, the Riverton Volunteer Fire Department, and Riverton Search and Rescue.
“We are deeply grateful to each of these organizations for welcoming our students and giving them uniquely hands-on opportunities to serve,” Mossbrucker said. “Experiences like these help students learn that no matter their age, there is always something they can do to take action and help the world around them.”
Mossbrucker added that these efforts are ongoing and reflect the school’s commitment to community service.
“While the specific projects change, we intentionally partner with local organizations throughout the year in meaningful, hands-on ways. Our hope is that students grow in awareness, compassion, and responsibility over time, not just through a single event.”
Mossbrucker added that students naturally stepped into the leadership roles while caring for others.
“Older students helped younger ones understand their tasks and why the work mattered, whether that meant patiently explaining a job or simply modeling a positive attitude.”
At several of the locations the students visited, the various community partners commented on “how engaged, respectful, and joyful the students were, not just completing tasks, but genuinely connecting with the people they were serving,” Mossbrucker said.
“For example, one third-grader, Farrah, talked to the staff at Open Hand Ranch about her own horses, and she kept exclaiming, ‘I am so happy to be outside working,'” Mossbrucker shared.
“Those small, human interactions are exactly what we hope students carry with them, the understanding that they are capable of making a difference right now, wherever they are, just through simple compassion and joy.”
Sonja Fairfield at Foundations for Nations Food Pantry said that the students’ visit “gives them a sense of who we serve in the community.”
“57% of the people we feed are seniors, and many are children,” Fairfield explained. “The kids’ enthusiasm and excitement for every little thing, for me it’s routine, but for them it’s brand new. …Their enthusiasm sparks me to be more excited about the little things that I take for granted, like putting the food on the shelves. …What a beautiful experience it was for me to see it in that light. They volunteered and helped, and they got to go shopping. Some of the bags were heavier than the kids, and it was adorable. …Their light was just incredible for me.”
Kimber at the Senior Citizens Center said the residents “loved it.”
“Everybody thought it was wonderful.”
Lindsey Stewart at Fremont Local Market added that they were “so happy to get help from students at St. Margaret’s Catholic School.”
“The students showed generosity and creativity during their volunteer time.”
The students’ parents expressed similar gratitude that the kids got to take part in the efforts.
“One parent of two St. Margaret’s School students said that her kids came home chattering excitedly about the day, especially how much they enjoyed working at the food pantry,” Mossbrucker shared. “She appreciated that the experience helped them understand food insecurity in their own community and gave them a tangible way to help others. Knowing there is a local place supporting families in need made a strong impression, and her kids felt proud enough to talk about it into the evening at home, which speaks volumes about how meaningful the day was for them.”
“Moments like that speak directly to our mission at St. Margaret’s School,” Mossbrucker continued. “We want kids talking about school at the dinner table. We want what happens here to go beyond our doors, to shape not just our students, but their families as well. Parents are our partners. When students are excited to share what they learned and how they helped others, that’s when we know the experience is truly forming hearts, not just filling a school day. Real service projects with real people in this community drive that home for kids because they see and feel it.”
The students themselves learned a number of valuable lessons about giving back. Here’s what a few of them had to say.
- Payton, 5th Grade (First Responders Group): “It’s trying to teach us to help others, not for us to feel good, but we’re doing it for the glory of God. It was really fun seeing the first responders lighting up with joy from just our small works that we did.”
- Eli, 5th Grade (Food Pantry Group): “Helping others is a really good thing because it helps everybody in a tough time. We helped her stack stuff that she needed help with, and it helped people if they need food and they are having a tough time. I felt happy because it was fun and I helped others. Plus we got this cool jelly stuff, and I gave it away to my friend on the bus.”
- Theo, 1st Grade (Homestead Group): “To learn about different activities and to help the world by making people feel comfortable… and just being happy about it that you get to spend time with other people and help them.”
