The Power of Service

Pre-K students made Valentine’s Day cards for veterans in a veterans’ nursing home because everyone deserves love. The empathy was overflowing as our kindergarten students made birthday cards and Valentine’s Day cards for wish kids connected to Make-A-Wish. They celebrated (and counted) each card and connected it to the number of kids they made happy. Kindergarten classrooms also created a Soup Project where families donated cans of soup to financially insecure families who obtain food from North Fulton Community Charities.

 

Kindergarten and first-grade students also participated in the school-wide hygiene kit drive by pre-sorting donated items in preparation for the Community Sort Day. Students of various ages volunteered their time to prep more than80 hygiene kits. These volunteer efforts highlight the privilege that we have to expect there to be soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and toothpaste in our homes. Many families do not have that expectation, and these hygiene kits provide necessary care for them. Students worked hard to pack several items into each bag so that each family could benefit. In fact, many students asked, “Can’t we use bigger bags so families can get more stuff?” This simple question demonstrates their understanding of a large need in the community.

 

Second and third graders took a different approach to service, meeting after school to make animal treats and toys for cats and dogs at shelters. Students had an opportunity to make frozen and baked treats, and noted that animals enjoy treats made from whole ingredients rather than just processed ones. During one service session, Our Pals Place brought some furry friends over, and students were overjoyed to see these sweet animals enjoy their handiwork. Our School Leadership Team also dedicated time to make animal toys to help support this effort.

 

Fourth and fifth graders made sandwiches for The Sandwich Project, which also benefits financially insecure families. Instead of counting how many sandwiches they made, they counted how many people they fed! Middle Years students make meals for Lost-n-Found Youth, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps to end homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth. Staff members from Lost-n-Found Youth spoke to attendees at our Let’s Feed our Humanity weekend event, as well as to Middle Years students on Day of Action, our school-wide service-learning initiative. In addition, Middle Years students made holiday cards for Make-a-Wish kids and heard from Sophia Janney with Make-a-Wish Georgia on Day of Action. 

 

On Martin Luther King Day, we held a community event that celebrated many of the initiatives listed above. Families from within and beyond our High Meadows community came on campus on their “day off” to celebrate MLK Day ON. Participants made thank you cards for first responders, made meals for unhoused families in a local Family Promise Chapter, and made animal toys and treats for cats and dogs in shelters. It has been an amazing year of service, and our young ethical leaders look forward to connecting with nonprofits and supporting individuals, families, and pets next year!