ExploRIII 2014 Volume 2 | Page 3

Students with Servant Hearts Each year, Lincoln County R-III Schools complete service learning projects in the community. Many times the service projects are completed by entire grade levels, student organizations or even the entire school. During the 2013-14 school year many of the benefactors of these projects included Aging, Lincoln the Lincoln County Council on Ag County Nursing Rehab, Buddy Bags, local food Reh #themixmovement, Bright Futures pantries, #themi Lincoln County Adopt-a-Family, local veterans and the local chapter of the Salvation Army. Occasionally, schools benefactors outside the local will select be community community for community fo a cause that is dear to their as hearts such a Main Street Elementary’s Cure Walk for a Cu for Juvenile Diabetes, Patients, Ronald McDonald Pennies for P Teens for Jeans. House or Te 2013-14, individual students In 2013 created creat their own service projects to give back to causes close to their own heart. The R-III District was proud to support these students’ caring initiatives. Troy Buchanan Senior Jade McNeil spent her summer off raising money to create “Success in a Backpack.” Through business sponsorships and purchasing supplies at wholesale costs, McNeil was able to provide 160 students in need in the Lincoln County R-III Schools with the gift of heading back to school prepared. Claude Brown Elementary student Evalena Wilke made friendship link scarves and sold them to raise money for a classmate undergoing expensive therapies. 3 The Lincoln County R-III Schools belie ve instilling the act of service in our youth is a vi tal part of their educati on. We belie ve se rvice learning pro jects will create great leaders and citizens for our community . Wilke even created a signature scarf color for her friend and classmate Will Holland. “Willow” is yellow and Will combined. Before the 2014 summer had ended, Wilke had raised more than $2,200 for her friend and still receives weekly orders. For years, Anthony Obermiller, a student at Lincoln Elementary has written letters to military service men and women on his own. Last year, Obermiller asked if his friends at Lincoln Elementary could help him write to more men and women serving overseas. Students and staff gladly stepped up and helped the young writer. Troy Buchanan Senior Kellianne Mitchell made care packages for veterans in the Truman VA Medical Center during the holidays. Mitchell utilized the giving nature of the R-III student body and collected personal care items and small entertainment items for veterans. Approximately 200 gift bags were delivered to veterans by Mitchell and her elves.