Works of Mercy
All Aquinas students are required to serve others through Works of Mercy. For the ‘25-’26 school year, students will need to log 20 Corporal Works of Mercy hours and 4 Spiritual Works of Mercy between now and April 1, 2026.
At least half of the hours need to be completed by the end of the first semester, but many students complete all over the summer! We will also offer organized opportunities to serve on several Saturdays during the school year.
Works of Mercy- Spiritual and Corporal
The Spiritual Works of Mercy respond to spiritual needs. We encourage students to complete four different spiritual Works of Mercy. Acceptable examples include the following:
- Pray a rosary with a friend or family member for a specific intention of/for others.
- Volunteer to help with vacation bible school or religious education at your church.
- Invite a friend to attend a daily Mass with you.
- Pray a litany of the saints with a friend or family member.
- Spend an hour in adoration.
- Attend a bible study at your church.
- Pray the Stations of the Cross.
- Attend a Wednesday night church service.
- Go to confession.
The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. Corporal works respond to the basic needs of humanity.
Below are some opportunities for you to sign up for Works of Mercy with the school in June.
Parents, we need an adult volunteer to sign up for each of these events.
| Date | Time | Project | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 5 | 9:00-11:30am | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 12 | 9:00-11:30am | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 13 | 10:30am-12:30pm | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 15-20 | Overnight | Prayer and Action Camp– This is a fun, faith-filled opportunity to serve, pray, and play in our local community! This opportunity will fulfill all 4 Spiritual Works and all 20 Corporal Works. | SIGN UP ONLINE HERE THIS WEEK! |
| June 16 | 1:30-4:00pm | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 17 | 9:00-11:30am | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 17 | 10:30am- 12:30pm | Master’s Table Soup Kitchen | Click HERE to sign up. |
| June 17 | 1:30-4:00pm | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 24 | 9:00-11:30am | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 26 | 1:30-4:00pm | Golden Harvest Food Bank | Click HERE to sign up. Bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. |
| June 30 | 8:30am-12:30pm | Project Refresh at May Park | Click HERE to sign up. Complete waiver Form 1 and 2 for Project Refresh and bring with you on the day of service. |
| July 12 | 8:30am-12:30pm | Project Refresh at Master’s Table | Click HERE to sign up. Complete waiver Form 1 and 2 for Project Refresh and bring with you on the day of service. |
| July 11-13 | Overnight in Atlanta | Steubenville Conference– This is an opportunity to worship with friends, old and new, at a dynamic Catholic conference in Atlanta. This opportunity will fulfill all four Spiritual Works of Mercy. | Contact Mr. Lammers via email at mlammers@aquinashigh.org. |
| July 13-17 or July 20-24 | Overnight in Atlanta | Missionaries of Charity Camp– This is an opportunity to work with Mother Teresa’s sisters at a children’s VBS. (This opportunity is spiritual and corporal.) This opportunity will fulfill all 4 Spiritual Works and all 20 Corporal Works. | Contact Mr. Lammers via email at mlammers@aquinashigh.org or Mrs. Samaha at ksamaha@aquinashigh.org |
Golden Harvest Food Bank:
Students must bring in a signed waiver from their parent/guardian on the day of their volunteer shift. This can also be completed online if the individual student registers with their own profile and account through the GHFB registration system.
Project Refresh:
Complete waiver Form 1 and 2 for Project Refresh and bring with you on the day of service.
Dress Code for GHFB and Project Refresh:
- Volunteers should be at least 8 years old. Anyone under 13 needs to be signed up by a guardian.
- Volunteers should be comfortable standing for 2-3 hours in an assembly line and lifting 5-10 pounds repeatedly.
- Please dress in comfortable, casual clothes that can get dirty/sweaty and comfortable shoes for standing.
- CLOSED TOED shoes are required for safety when working in the warehouse. No sandals or flip flops please.
- To protect the safety of our volunteers and provide a positive environment, Golden Harvest requires the following dress code of volunteers: closed toed shoes, no leggings, no sleeveless, skirts and shorts must be no shorter than fingertip length at the minimum. (no gym shorts, short shorts, or leggings)
- Volunteers who come inappropriately dressed will be asked to change or leave before their shift.
Opportunities to Volunteer On Your Own
Click on the name of the organization below to learn more about it.
Augusta Locally Grown
This is an opportunity to help grow local foods throughout the CSRA. Their Farmer’s Markets are always looking for volunteers. Contact them at the email address community@auagustalocallygrown.org
Augusta Animal Services
This is an organization sponsoring responsible pet ownership in Richmond County. They love volunteers who are willing to walk and socialize dogs and cats and to help with events. Please call (706) 709-6836 to schedule a volunteer orientation and time to volunteer.
Belle Terrace Community Garden
Contact them at the email address Btpcgarden@gmail.com (subject line- volunteer)
This is an opportunity to help with a church community garden to aid in the nourishment of the community’s family’s minds, bodies, and souls. They are looking for individuals to help with watering, weeding, and harvesting.
Catholic Social Services
https://www.cssaugustathriftstore.com/volunteer
Working in the Thrift Store
Compass for Hope
https://compassforhope.org
Please call (706) 589-0694 to get involved.
Helping the homeless in Augusta:
Need volunteers every week. Specific responsibilities include greeting guests, possible parking lot clean up, unpacking the toiletry items to be given away, setting up the line with the day’s bounty to give, and handing out clothes. Sunday morning serving & clean up: 10:30-12:30
Garden City Rescue Mission
This is an organization serving the unsheltered and in-need in the Augusta area. Volunteers are needed to provide meals and to work in the warehouse. Call (706) 724-6960 to volunteer.
Golden Harvest Food Bank (3310 Commerce Drive)
www.goldenharvest.org
Sign up at https://goldenharvest.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/
We believe that everyone in our community should have enough nutritious food to live a happy, healthy life. We strive to increase access to healthy food and foster long-term stability for neighbors in need with the help of our donors, partners, and volunteers.
HUB for Community Innovation
This is an opportunity to serve with an organization with multiple programs.
Masters Table Soup Kitchen (701 Fenwick Street)
https://volunteers.goldenharvest.org/agency/detail/?agency_id=126070
Providing meals for the less fortunate through Golden Harvest Food Bank
We welcome volunteers to help prepare and serve a daily meal. During shift #1 (meal prep), volunteers will help with meal preparation in the kitchen. No cooking skills required. During shift #2 (meal service), volunteers will help serve lunch to our guests.
Schedule: Volunteer Days: 7 days a week, Shifts: 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (meal prep), 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (meal service)
Project Refresh
https://www.projectrefreshinc.com
Founded in July of 2020, Project Refresh, Inc. is a non-profit organization that believes that access to a refreshing shower is a basic human right that no one should be denied. Contact them via email at volunteer@projectrefreshinc.com
Ronald McDonald House
This is an opportunity to work with and to serve families who have family members in the hospital.
Contact them at https://rmhcaugusta.org/get-involved-2/volunteer-2/
Salvation Army Center for Hope
This is an organization serving those in need. They have multiple opportunities to volunteer. Please sign up on their online calendar at https://salvationarmyaugusta.galaxydigital.com/need
Savannah River Keeper
This is an opportunity to serve with several different groups in order to keep our community and waterways clean! Contact them via email at https://www.savannahriverkeeper.org/
Via Cognitive Health (on Washington Road across from California Dreaming)
Sign up https://www.viacognitivehealth.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Via Cognitive Health (on Washington Road across from California Dreaming) offers programming for individuals diagnosed with a cognitive decline disorder like Dementia or Alzheimer’s to engage in mental and physical exercise and socialization in order to promote a higher level of cognitive functioning for longer. This beautiful new facility opened in June 2024. They need our help in a couple of ways:
- Front desk coverage one day each week from 4- 6 p.m.
- Spend an hour or two with guests playing board games, reading, serving as a lunch buddy (listening and talking), etc. This is an easy, rewarding way to make someone’s day! Ideally, we are looking for students to commit to serving multiple times throughout the summer.
The front desk opportunity is also available from 4-6 during the school year. The address is 105 Lutheran Drive, Augusta 30907
Works of Mercy opportunities that are not listed must have prior approval. Service for family members/neighbors is not going to count toward Works of Mercy service hours. Also, helping your team with a summer camp for kids is considered team member responsibility and not service.
