Community Service

Community service and social action are integral to the life and mission of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. From the very youngest students to the inter-generational community in action days, the Sacred Heart community commits to building a world where equal opportunity is available to all. Every member of the Sacred Heart family is encouraged to make hands-on service a way of life.
A group of young women in school uniforms standing in front of a van with the %22Lighthouse%22 logo, surrounded by trees and a brick building in the background.
KH Students packing food drive box
Two individuals, a woman and a man, are moving boxes and supplies in what appears to be a classroom or office setting, with a whiteboard visible in the background.
A group of young people, dressed in casual clothing, are standing together in a garden setting with lush greenery and trees in the background.
Two smiling women wearing uniforms stand in a room with shelves labeled %22Formula%22, %22Baby Food%22, and %22Body Food%22 in the background.
The image shows a room filled with various bicycles, with a person in the foreground working on repairing or maintaining one of the bicycles.
Two young women are smiling and handling cardboard boxes in what appears to be a storage or moving environment, with other people and boxes visible in the background.

Schoolwide Opportunities

Community service objectives and plans are visible at each level of the school, providing developmentally-appropriate ways for students to respond to the needs of the world.

From participating in disaster relief efforts, to assisting those in need within the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, to providing Thanksgiving food baskets, students give from the heart to ease the burdens of others.

Making Time to Serve

The community service program is most visible in the middle schools and Upper School, where time is allotted during the instructional day for students to serve the educational, nutritional and social needs of children and adults in neighboring communities.

Reflection, social analysis and commitment to changing lives through the actions of love are fundamental to the community service program.

Additional Outreach

Upper School students and Middle School for Girls Grade 8 students, along with interested adults, can also join a monthly Saturday service program at Focus: HOPE.

They partner with young men from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School for this long-running outreach, a tradition since 1989, working alongside Focus: HOPE volunteers to sort and distribute food, organize supplies, and support community programs.

Where We Serve

Students partner with organizations across Metro Detroit to support children, families, neighborhoods, and community programs. These experiences help students practice presence, compassion, and responsible action in real-world settings. Current placements include:

  • Rogers Elementary
  • La Casa Amiga
  • Kennedy Center
  • Grace Centers of Hope
  • Lighthouse
  • Ladies of Charity
  • Micah 6 Community
  • OPTIMIZE
  • Detroit Zoo

Service Recognition

Students are frequently recognized for their community service through local Youth Assistance programs, the Society of St. Vincent dePaul and the Alumnae/i Association.