Ninth- and 10th-graders from the Lorain County JVS Connections Academy recently spent a day doing community service.
Many nonprofits welcomed the students, including Oberlin Community Services, Common Ground, Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the Firelands Boy Scout Reservation, and the Neighborhood Alliance Senior Center.
Teens used their skills, talents, and muscle to do anything that was asked of them. A big portion of the day was devoted to outdoor clean-up, mulching, and landscaping at the various sites.
Other activities included sorting and packing food backpacks at Second Harvest Food Bank and cleaning and reorganizing the dining hall at the Firelands Boy Scout Reservation in Wakeman.
After the three-hour experience, the students returned to the JVS for lunch and several of the representatives from the various organizations joined them.
Teens talked with each other about their experiences and the organizations where they volunteered.
“Having the students do a presentation about their experience allowed all of the students to learn about the many organizations in the community, not just the one they volunteered at,” said instructor Megan Champagne, who helped organize the day.
“This was our first attempt at a service learning day for our ninth- and 10th-graders and it was a huge success,” she said. “Our goal was to help them make a connection to the local community and we certainly accomplished that.”
Courtesy photos Volunteering at Oberlin Community Services are JVS students Ryan Peters (Columbia) and Andrew West (Midview).
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Courtesy photos Volunteering at Oberlin Community Services are JVS students Ryan Peters (Columbia) and Andrew West (Midview).
At Oberlin Community Services are Amelia Bates (Oberlin), Kayla Wohleber (Keystone), Mya Koler (Amherst), Margaret Zalek (Brookside), and Savannah Bennett (Wellington).
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At Oberlin Community Services are Amelia Bates (Oberlin), Kayla Wohleber (Keystone), Mya Koler (Amherst), Margaret Zalek (Brookside), and Savannah Bennett (Wellington).
Staff Report