Students at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Three Rivers are making and selling soap in efforts to raise money for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl program this Lenten season. The upper elementary and middle school children are led by teacher Karen Szwaja and have made four batches of soap so far for their “Soap for Hope” fundraiser.
“The whole thing started with an idea,” Szwaja told Watershed Voice. “We have our Rice Bowls for Lent, and we were trying to think what we could do differently to raise money. Someone suggested a bake sale, but we know people give up sweets for Lent. So, we had made soap at our retreat for Advent, and I thought, ‘why don’t we make soap and sell soap to raise money?’”
Rice Bowls, Szwaja explained, are cardboard boxes Catholic families put money into during Lent and the donations are then sent to CRS. “Say you give up pop for Lent, the intent is for you to take the money you saved from doing that, and put it in the Rice Bowl cardboard box,” she said. “It’s like giving up to give.” According to the CRS website, 25% of Rice Bowl donations stay in each U.S. diocese for hunger and poverty alleviation efforts, and 75% of Rice Bowl donations support CRS work around the world.
With the idea for “Soap for Hope” planted, Szwaja got to work teaching herself the soap-making process, and then coaching her students. There are 12 children on the project, and they work collaboratively on the various parts of the process. “We have a melting station, a scenting station, and a coloring station,” Szwaja said. “Then the kids pour it in the mold, then they mark each soap to keep track of the scents, and then there is dish duty to wash bowls because we have to clean each one between different scents.” Seventh grader Ariana Gonzalez said the students enjoy picking colors for the soaps they think the customer might like, and she said her favorite soaps are the ones scented like mango.
While the students share responsibilities at the different stages of making the soap, one student took on a more creative role. Sixth grader Arien Coburn is the artistic mind behind the Soap for Hope logo, which can be seen displayed on order forms, soap labels, and even the students’ shirts. “Arien is our artist, she came up with the logo. The first day when we were all working on and making soap, she sat down and designed and made up our logo,” Szwaja said.
Once the students began advertising, the project immediately received $70 in orders the first day. “We have only advertised through word-of-mouth so far,” Szwaja said, “These orders are just from family and friends.” She said originally the fundraiser was intended only for Lent, and the plan was to accept and deliver orders through March 31. “We are really thinking about continuing to do it, though,” Szwaja said, “just as a general fundraiser for the school.” Szwaja’s enthusiasm for continuing the project might stem from the fact the group has already surpassed its goal. “Our total right now is at about $270, and I never in a million years thought it would happen,” she said.
The artisan soaps are on display throughout the Lenten season on a table at the school, but must be ordered using an order form. Small heart soaps are $2.50, rectangle soaps are $3, and there are scents to choose from like vanilla oatmeal, orange coconut, and mango vanilla. For those wishing to place an order, contact Karen Szwaja at [email protected].
Beca Welty is a staff writer and columnist for Watershed Voice.
