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Elder Community Service – Service Programs

SERVICE PROGRAMS

Elder Serves offers a variety of types of services opportunities:

  • PERIODIC PROGRAMS:  Service experiences that take place multiple times throughout the year.
  • ONE TIME EVENTS:  Larger service events that involve a large number of members of our community.
  • COMMUNITY EVENTS:  Non-profit agencies, community members or grads that request volunteers.
  • MISSION TRIPS:  Experiential service-learning activities that involve travel and time away from school.
Sleep In Heavenly Peace

ESLC LIAISONS
Brett McQuillan ’26 & Connor McCarthy ’28

ABOUT
Elder Serves is excited to work with Sleep In Heavenly Peace – Cincinnati OH Chapter (www.shpcincy.org) to help build and deliver beds to kids in need.   Several times each month, we will be either building or delivering beds.  The deliveries will be to some of the many kids on SHP Cincy’s wait list.

BED DELIVERIES
Deliveries will take place immediately after school and space is limited to a few students per delivery.

BED BUILDING 
Bed building sessions will take place afterschool and during flex, and we will have room for approximately 12 students for each build session.  Dates will be posted to the calendar on the home page.

SECOND SEMESTER DATES (Note: Dates subject to change)

  • Bed Deliveries After School (at Elder) – Jan 14 • Jan 28 • Feb 18 • Feb 25 • Mar 11 • Mar 18 • Apr 22
  • Bed Builds After School (at Elder) – TBA – Weather Dependent
  • Klusman Day of Service Bed Build Event (at Elder) – Sat, Mar 28

TO REGISTER

  • Bed Deliveries After School (at Elder) – Email Mr. Forman with a date that interests you. Space is limited.
  • Bed Builds After School (at Elder) – Email Mr. Forman with a date that interests you.
  • Klusman Day of Service Bed Build Event (at Elder) – CLICK HERE

PHOTOS 
CLICK HERE for photos from SHP Elder Deliveries and CLICK HERE for photos from Klusman Day Bed Build 2025.

Cross Ministry

ESLC LIAISONS
Connor McCarthy ’28 & Zach Hafner ’27

ABOUT
The mission of Elder Serves Cross Ministry is to spread our faith in Jesus Christ through the making and distribution of small wooden crosses.  We provide FREE HANDMADE CROSSES to anyone who asks.

WHAT WE DO
Elder students come together to build small wooden crosses in the form of necklaces and simple wood crosses.  These crosses are available to anyone who would like them – free of charge.

HISTORY
Elder’s Cross Ministry was inspired by the work of two men – former Elder teacher Mark Klusman and an Iowa pastor named Mr. Bill Evans.  In 1978, Elder teacher Mr. Mark Klusman gave each student in his Geography class a small wooden cross.  Mr. Forman was a student in Mr. Klusman’s class and was impacted by this small token of our faith. He still has this cross in his possession today.

CONTINUING THE MISSION
At Elder High School we continue Mr. Evan’s mission and honor Mr. Klusman’s memory and gift of crosses to his students.  The production of crosses includes acquiring scrap hardwood, planing the wood to proper thickness, cutting and routing the pieces, gluing, drilling, and assembling necklaces and key rings.

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
Check our CALENDAR page and respond to the MobileServe invite if you would like to participate in an assembly event.

MORE INFO
CLICK HERE for more information and to order cross necklaces and key rings.

Ronald McDonald House

ESLC LIAISON
Zach Hafner ’27

ABOUT
The Ronald McDonald House (www.rmhcincinnati.org) provides housing for families with children being treated at Children’s Hospital and other area hospitals.  Help is needed preparing and serving meals for these families.  Volunteers will be taught basic kitchen rules and knife skills, and then we will work on preparing the meal for the 177 families staying at the house.  Once prepared, we will serve the dinners to the families and then we enjoy dinner as well.  Afterwards, we clean up the kitchen before leaving.

BONUS HOURS: If your mom/dad can help you will receive two bonus hours of service.

LOCATION
341 Erkenbrecher Avenue, 45229 (MAP)

DATES
Wed, Nov 5 (4 PM – 8 PM)

REGISTER
Check our CALENDAR and email Mr. Forman if you are interested in participating.
** VOLUNTEERS MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE **

Street Team

ESLC LIAISONS
Sam Bill ’26 & Reese Morgan ’28

ABOUT
Help us beautify our neighborhood by cleaning up litter found on the neighboring streets around Elder.  Volunteers will carry a grabber and bucket to try to accumulate the most trash.  Meet outside of Mr. Forman’s office (Room 111) on clean up days.  Volunteers will get 1.5 hours of service for helping out.

TO REGISTER
Check our CALENDAR page and respond to the MobileServe invite if you would like to participate in an event.

PHOTOS
CLICK HERE for photos from previous Street Team events.

Tech With The Elderly

PROGRAM LEADER/FOUNDER

Michael Albers ’27

ESLC LIAISONS
Rosember Diaz-Zacharias ’26 & Evan Kafel ’28

DATES
Thu, Nov 13 | 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Tue, Dec 16 | 3 – 4:30 PM | Delhi Senior Center
Mon, Dec 29 | 10 AM – Noon | Green Township Senior Center
Tue, Jan 13 | 3 – 4:30 PM | Delhi Senior Center

ABOUT
Tech With The ELDERly connects Elder students with elderly people at assisted living homes where we help the residents with the technology questions – iPhones, laptop computers, and other tech.

TECH with the ELDERly gives back to the people who have helped shape our world today. It is extremely rewarding to help an older generation understand how their technology works, especially since many things are centered around technology now. By helping them, they can become more connected with the world and more active in day-to-day activities. Screens can be difficult to navigate, especially for a generation raised without them, but our group will do our best to help with any questions they may have and teach them the basics on how to use their devices.

INTERESTED?
If you would like to join the ELDERly Tech Team, email Michael e26-albersmt@elderhs.net and he will keep you posted.

Western Wildlife Corridor

PROGRAM LEADERS
Lincoln Edwards ’27 & Brecken Born ’27

ESLC LIAISONS
Brody Gilday ’27 & Sawyer Bradshaw ’28

EVENT DATES
Fri, Nov 14 – Dig A Pond  CLICK FOR INFO

ABOUT
Since 1992, Western Wildlife Corridor (www.westernwildlifecorridor.org) has been focused on protecting natural greenspace in and near the Ohio River valley between Cincinnati  and the Indiana border to the west. We do this for a lot of reasons; to protect and preserve habitat for local flora and fauna, to provide opportunities for people to access nature, and to offset and balance the environmental impacts and effects of development around us.  WWC now protects over 400 acres of natural habitat.  Volunteers are needed to build and maintain trails, remove invasive species, and other fun outdoor wildlife restoration projects.

LOCATION
Various greenspaces managed by WWC

PHOTOS
CLICK HERE for photos from WWC.

TO REGISTER
Email Brecken Born and Lincoln Edwards if you’d like to participate.

Ohio March For Life (OCT 3)

OHIO MARCH FOR LIFE
DATE: Fri Oct 3, 2025 | 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
LOCATION: Columbus, OH

ABOUT
The Ohio March for Life is a pro-life event held at the Ohio State Capitol building in Columbus, Ohio, to advocate for the rights of the unborn and raise awareness for the pro-life movement. The marchers will gather to support legislation that protects unborn lives and to advocate for a culture that values all human life. The event will take place at the Ohio State Capitol building in Columbus. ** Students will earn 8 service hours for participating. **

TO REGISTER
Go to MobileServe and click on EVENTS.

CONTACT
Email Mrs. Daubenmerkl (daubenmerklce@elderhs.net or Room 301) if you have any questions.

SVDP Coat Distribution (NOV 7 & 8)

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COAT DISTRIBUTION
LOCATION: Elder High School – Schaeper Center
SET UP: FRI, NOV 7 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM  FULL
EVENT: SAT, NOV 8 | 8 AM – NOON

ABOUT
Help our neighbors in need get a warm winter coat at SVDP’s Coat Distribution event, conveniently located at Elder HS.  Volunteers are need on the Friday session to help set up the coats, and others are needed on Saturday session to help distribute the coats. Friday after school is event Set Up and Saturday is Coat Distribution.

TO REGISTER
Email Mr. Forman if you would like to participate at the Distribution (Nov. 8).

PHOTOS
CLICK HERE for photos from previous Coat Distributions.

PWC Prepare Affair (NOV 15)

PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY
LOCATION: 4612 Paddock Road 45229
DATE: SAT, NOV 15, 2025 | 8 AM – NOON

ABOUT
PWC performs critical home repairs and services so that low-income homeowners can remain in their homes living independently and healthier in a safe, sound environment.

PREPARE AFFAIR
Prepare Affair is a volunteer event that brings together more than 2,000 volunteers to help low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners prepare their homes for winter. One of the largest volunteer events in the tri-state, Prepare Affair crews will perform winter preparation activities that will make a huge difference for elderly homeowners with physical limitations.  We will be raking leaves and cleaning gutters for our neighbors in need.

TO REGISTER
CLICK HERE to register.  You can also register your parent to participate as well.

BONUS OPPORTUNITY
If your mom/dad can help you will receive two bonus hours of service.

PHOTOS
CLICK HERE for Fall 2024 Prepare Affair photos.

PARKING
There are two entrances to the parking lot.  Check the other if the one you are at is closed.

Coats for Kids (NOV 18)

STUDENT LEADER: BLAKE WILLIAMS ’28

Spiritual Boosters' Turkey Fry (NOV 26)

FOR FRESMEN STUDENTS AND THEIR DADS/MENTORS

 

WHO ARE THE SPIRITUAL BOOSTERS?
The Boosters are a group of men dedicated to the spiritual development of Elder students.  Founded in 2004, we are men of faith, some Elder graduates and some are not.  We exist to assist the faculty in the spiritual development of the students through evenings of reflection, service projects and retreats.

THE HISTORY OF THE TURKEY FRY
The Turkey Fry began in 2009 feeding 25 families through the Holy Family School and Food Pantry.  It has expanded in recent years to include families from the Romero Academy (former Resurrection School) for a total of 55 meals each year.  Since the beginning, Elder students and their fathers/mentors have prepared over 750 Thanksgiving Dinners for Price Hill families.  Families have enjoyed meals of deep fried turkeys, cranberry sauce, breadsticks, canned vegetables, and pumpkin pies which are delivered by the students and fathers/mentors to their homes.

TURKEY FRY 2025 DETAILS
The Spiritual Boosters are recruiting 16 student-father/mentor pairs to help prepare and deliver the turkey dinners on Wednesday, November 26. There will be multiple shifts throughout the day – SHIFT 1: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM | SHIFT 2: 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM | SHIFT 3: 2:00 – 5:30 PM.  You will be able to indicate which shifts work for you on the registration form.

In order to participate in the event, students and their fathers/mentors must attend a meeting and prayer service on Tuesday, November 25 at 5:00 PM in the Elder Chapel.  Following the meeting and prayer service, we will need 4 of these student-father/mentor pairs to help in the kitchen to prepare some pumpkin pies for the dinners. Participation in both the meeting/prayer service and the Turkey Fry are required for this event. 

WHO IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE?
The Turkey Fry opportunity is first opened to Freshmen students and their father/mentor.  If we any openings after November 10, we will open spots up to other father-son/mentor-son pairs that have not previously participated.

TO REGISTER
CLICK HERE to complete the registration form. (Limited to 16 father/son pairs – First Come First Served.)
SORRY – REGISTRATION IS FULL. Email  FORMANTT@ELDERHS.NET if you would like to be added to the waitlist.

PHOTOS
CLICK HERE for photos CLICK HERE for WCPO Channel 9’s segment

QUESTIONS?
You can direct all Turkey Fry questions to Doug Jaeger (doug.jaeger@geaerospace.com) or Tom Aug (taug382@gmail.com).

CLICK HERE FOR RECAP OF TURKEY FRY 2024

SVDP Toy Drive (DEC 3) & Toy Shop (DEC 12 & 13)

TOY SHOP 2025 – THANK YOU!

Thank You to everyone who participated in our Christmas Together Toy Drive and Toy Shop this year!  It was a huge success with over 450 kids receiving toys this Christmas thanks to your generosity.  Many lives were touched by your participation, so for giving of your time, talent, and/or treasure.

Special thanks to…

  • Elder families, students, teachers, staff, and friends of Elder who donated toys and other gifts to the Toy Shop
  • The Class of 1969, Mark Witte, Amy Williams, Will Groneman, Rachel Callif, Freidoon Ghazi, Paige Debuys, Vicki Frazier-Fuchs for their monetary gifts
  • Mr. Pete Witte ’86 for hosting the Price Hill Christmas gathering once again this year
  • Mrs. Mary Kay Gilbert for donating toys again this year…as she has done every year since 1986!
  • Mr. Jesse Armstrong and Jessica of the Nutrition Group for collecting and donating toys
  • Mrs. Shirley Kathman and Mrs. Tammy Sheridan for donating 10 boxes of toy, shoes, and clothes
  • Mr. and Mrs. Zureick who donated many basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, and baseballs
  • Mrs. Michelle Guenther and Mrs. Katie Droder of Queen City Book Bank for coordinating the donation of 1000 new books
  • Mrs. Bev Flaherty for coordinating all the student volunteers and shopping for toys
  • The more than 60 Elder student volunteers and Isa Flaherty who helped at the Toy Shop
  • Mrs. Tara Tuttle, Mr. Jeff Tuttle, Mrs. Mary Beth Corey, Mrs. Colleen Daubenmerkl and Mr. Adam Duwel for their assistance at the Toy Shop
  • Mr. Greg Dickman for volunteering his class to help transport toys and books multiple times
  • Mr. Tom Roberts and Mrs. Erin Nowak of St. Vincent de Paul for working with us again year
  • The wonderful Elder moms who helped with gift wrapping and other tasks!
  • CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

 

HISTORY
The Elder Toy Shop was started in the 1980’s by Mrs. Liz Witte, an Elder mom.  Mrs. Witte believed that all kids should have some toys to open on Christmas day and she decided to do something about it.   For many years while her sons were at Elder, Mrs. Witte would coordinate the collection of food and toys to be distributed to needy families in Over-The-Rhine.  As the years went and her sons graduated, the reins were passed to her son Pete Witte who still supports the event to this day.  As the demographics of our city changed, the Toy Shop changed to serve primarily our Price Hill neighbors in need.  We are pleased to be able to honor Mrs. Witte’s legacy as we prepare for Toy Shop this year.  CLICK HERE for a Price Hill Press article from 2011.

TOY DRIVE 2025
On Wed, Dec 3, Elder will have a Theme Day and students are asked to bring in one or more unwrapped toys that will be used at our Toy Shop.  The type of toy to be brought in will be based upon students’ HR teacher.  We truly appreciate any support students and parents can give to our Toy Shop this year!

TOY SHOP 2025
We are excited to partner with St. Vincent de Paul once again this year and be a part of their Christmas Together programs.   SVDP has a long history of serving neighbors in need in Cincinnati (and around the world), and they have hosted successful Toy Shops for many years, helping neighbors in need who request assistance during the Holiday season.  Even though we are working with SVDP this year, the neighbors who will be shopping at Elder’s Toy Shop reside in the Price Hill area – so we are truly helping our neighbors in need again this year.  NOTE: All families invited to our shop will have been notified by St. Vincent de Paul.  Unfortunately we are NOT able to accept walkups.

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS & ADULT VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to everyone who registered to help.  We currently have all of the volunteers we need for the Toy Shop Setup on Fri, Dec 12 (2:30 – 4:30 PM) and the Toy Shop on Sat, Dec 13 (8 AM – 1 PM). Email Todd Forman (formantt@elderhs.net) if you’d like to be put on the wait list.

CLICK HERE FOR RECAP FROM OUR 2024 TOY DRIVE & TOY SHOP

Dad & Son Service Day (MAR 21)


 

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED US!


Mark Klusman Day of Service (MAR 28)

THANK YOU!

Bed Builders –

On behalf of our SHP Cincinnati Chapter and our awesome Core Team, I wanted to thank you for being part of the Mark Klusman Day of Service Bed Build Event yesterday!   What a great day of coming together to build 100 beds for kids in need!  Many of the beds you built will provide a life-changing gift to children in need within a few miles of Elder.  We appreciate all of you for your efforts, with special thanks to those of you who came early and stayed the entire day to help!

VERY SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to The Klusman Family for coming out in force to honor the memory of their uncle/brother Mark Klusman who for more than 50 years touched the lives of many thousands of people connected to the Elder community. Thanks to Tom Klusman and Matt Klusman, who spent the day working with us and who told us how their uncle Mark always watched out for the students who needed extra support and spent so much time encouraging kids at athletic events that he was seen as the unofficial “coach” for every sport. The shared how Mark made every day he a great day, how he lived a simple life of service to others, and when he passed, he left his fortune to several charities that meant so much to him.  Finally, in Mark’s final act of giving, they told us how Mark forgave the young woman whose actions caused the injuries that led to his untimely death in 2017.  (Enquirer Article).

MORE THANKS
Also, a big thank you to Jen Smith and the good people at the Wegman Company for providing transportation of our finished beds back to our warehouse after the bed build.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
CLICK HERE for photos from our build day.

Louisa KY Mission Trip (FALL/SPRING)

LOCATION: Fr. Beiting Appalachian Mission Center
UPCOMING TRIPS: SEP 16 – 20, 2025 | APR 21 – 25, 2026
COST: No Charge

Elder students are invited to participate in the very special Appalachian outreach trip (MAP).  This is a mission trip/retreat experience where students will do volunteer work each day through the Mission Center.  Each evening participants live in community where they prepare and share meals together, discuss and reflect on their experiences, and end the evening in shared prayer.

MORE INFORMATION
Visit https://www.fbamc-ky.org/ for more information and contact Mrs. Jen Lanter (lanterjd@elderhs.net) if you have any questions.

PHOTOS
CLICK HERE for photos from previous trips.

INTERESTED?
Spring 2026 Trip is FULL.  Contact Jen Lanter if you have any questions.

SVDP Urban Plunge (FEB 2026)

LOCATION: St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Center
UPCOMING TRIPS: FEB 13 – 15, 2026
COST: No Charge

This is a 3-day Urban Plunge service-learning experience offered by the St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Center in Cincinnati, is based on the paradigm of Experience, Reflection, and Action. Students learn about the needs of people in poverty who live in Over-the-Rhine and the West End and serve them through St. Vincent de Paul. Overnight accommodation at the St. Vincent de Paul Bank Street location.  If you are interested, please contact Jen Lanter for trip application.

Note: This is the first time offering this experience at Elder, and the trip happening is contingent on interest and finding a parent chaperone.

INTERESTED OR NEED MORE INFORMATION
Contact Mrs. Jen Lanter (lanterjd@elderhs.net) for a trip application or if you have any questions.

Solferino, Quintana Roo, Mexico Mission Trip (JUNE)

LOCATION: Solferino/Quintana Roo, Mexico (just outside Cancun)
UPCOMING TRIP:  JUNE 8 – 15, 2026  FULL
COST: $1200

Elder High School is excited to offer a summer mission trip to Solferino, Quintana Roo, Mexico (just outside Cancun – MAP). This service trip will allow students to explore a new culture while completing service projects, spending time in prayer and reflection, and spending time with members of the community we serve. The cost is all-inclusive, covering all travel, meals, mission activities, sightseeing, and transportation.

Summer 2025 Itinerary (Summer 2026 TBD)

  • Tue| Travel Day: Leave Cincinnati, arrive in Cancun Mexico, transportation to Solferino, welcome, dinner, night prayers
  • Wed – Fri | Service Days: Prayer, breakfast, mission work, lunch, community time, mass, dinner
  • Sat| Mass, followed by sightseeing including Chichen Itza
  • Sun |  Mass, followed by fun beach day
  • Mon | Travel Day – Breakfast, check out, transfer to airport, return to Cincinnati

TRIP LEADERSHIP
Fr. Andrew Gronotte is leading and coordinating this trip.

PARENT MEETING
Several meetings will be held prior to the trip.  Trip details regarding the mission and the service we will perform will be shared at that time. We will also discuss fundraising during the parent meeting.

PASSPORT
If you are interested please make sure to apply for a passport for your son, passports are needed to book the flights. Passports are currently taking about a month to receive after application.

PHOTOS
CLICK HERE for photos from previous trips.

INTERESTED?
Contact Fr. Andrew Gronotte (gronotteaj@elderhs.net) to indicate your interest.