PORTLAND — On Tuesday and Wednesday, freshmen and sophomores at Cheverus High School devoted two full days of service to organizations throughout the greater Portland area. By volunteering their time, these students are acting on what will be four years of lessons of social responsibility and the performance of hands-on service.

In addition to academics, the school aims to develop leaders who are committed to the values of compassion toward all and service to those in need.

Students volunteered at the Preble Street Soup Kitchen, Port Resources, Lyseth School, The Root Cellar, Ruth’s Reusable Resources, State Street Clothing Center, Catholic Charities, St. Brigid’s School, St. Luke’s Episcopal Cathedral, Sacred Heart/St. Dominic’s Parish, and a cleanup of Calvary Cemetery.

By enacting Cheverus’ mission to be “people for and with others” by working in soup kitchens, schools, churches and other service organizations, students prepared meals, raked leaves, worked with elementary school students, sorted donated clothes and a variety of other tasks during their community service day. Afterword, students reflect on the experience by writing a short paper about “finding God in all things.”