The saying “service begins at home” is certainly true for AHN’s newest mission effort that will take place right here in the heart of Tampa. In advance of this mission, the girls are sponsoring a  Heart of Tampa Drive from March 6-13.

AHN Tampa missionaries will collect  canned goods for the people of Mary Help of Christian, including rice, pasta, canned vegetables, crackers, and peanut butter.   Academy students and their families only need to take time to go through their pantries to make a difference in the lives of people in their own community.

In addition, Assistant Campus Minister Katie Holland has planned an eventful mission for the week of March 18-22.  Nineteen girls will travel to the poorest areas of Tampa, not far from the AHN community, to help people in need.  The girls will stay at Mary Help of Christians where they will fix up the pavilion, work with the Florida Autism Center for Excellence (FACE), a school for children with autism, and play with the children in the Boys and Girls Club located at Mary Help of Christian.

Campus Minister Sr. Mary Patricia Plumb SNJM is happy that Academy students will serve so close to home. “The girls are very excited to help people in our community that no one has the time to help.”

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” – Mahatma Gandhi