Stretching helping hands across the country, students of Our Lady of Assumption School adopted a Los Angeles Catholic elementary school damaged by the January earthquake.

Nativity School, located in a south L.A. low-income area, suffered structural damage making it unsafe for occupancy. Classes are being held in another school until Nativity can be repaired.

Students and teachers of OLA have taken part in fundraising and other projects to help Nativity. During Catholic Schools Week they held a “Dimes for Damages” campaign and two bake sales. Students at the junior high level donated proceeds from their Valentine Dance held in February.

When OLA students learned that the students did not have any books to read they began “Books for Buddies,” a drive to collect fiction and non-fiction paperback books to send to the students at the adopted school. OLA students hope to collect more than 1,000 books before the drive closes at the end of Lent. Donations of books suitable for students in grades K through six can be made by calling OLA at 364-1902.