Giving back has always been a big part of Our Lady of Good Counsel School’s programs. Students and staff work together to host fundraisers throughout the year in a variety of ways.
Third grader Marcelo Moreno did his duty to give back by creating a newscast video through the school’s media club and its Just Do It Giving program, informing people about Catholic Charities USA and asking for those watching to donate.
“I hope my video helps out Catholic Charities,” Marcelo said.
The media club and Just Do It Giving is a program that teaches media skills, such as television production and film, at OLGC but also helps to raise money for various charities that students chose in the name of the school. With the help of his mother Tatiana on the script and teacher Marcie Steel on the editing, Marcelo created a newscast informing people about Catholic Charities USA and asking for them to donate to the non-profit.
In the video, Marcelo sits at a desk as if he were a newscaster and introduces himself before going into what Catholic Charities is all about. It includes a voiceover with pictures from the organization talking about Catholic Charities’ mission, what it does for the community and asking people to donate.
Catholic Charities’ mission is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same. Marcelo’s newscast said the organization helps with disaster relief, housing needs, low-income families, learning opportunities and facilitating adoptions.
Marcelo said he liked everything about creating the video. He admitted to being a little nervous, not expecting so many people to watch him as he did the newscast, but he said he just brought up his courage and did it.
“(I felt) proud,” Marcelo said. “I like helping other people … and giving. It is good to be generous and help other people who really need help.”
Tatiana tries to help her children reflect on what they have and teach them many people don’t have that. If they are able to help, Tatiana would like them to realize they should.
“I was very proud he accepted to do this,” Tatiana said. “In the beginning, I felt like I was pushing him, but he accepted it and did it himself.”
Marcelo hopes people who watch the video donate to Catholic Charities to help those who are less fortunate.
To help Marcelo and Catholic Charities, go to www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org/donate/ and type “OLGC” in the “Other” category under “How Did you Hear About Us.”
You can also check out the other Just Do It Giving videos from other OLGC students by checking out the Just Do It Youtube page at www.youtube.com/channel/UCBQo4UUQvjN7v8wwnGo551A.
