then, Dante has contributed numerous hours of service
to his community. Just this past February, Dante began
the month by volunteering to paint picnic tables at
Duvall Homes, a nonprofit organization in Volusia
County that provides services for people with special
needs. He ended the month by preparing for a mission
trip with classmates to the Dominican Republic.
Volunteering comes in many forms and doesn’t
necessarily require any travel. “I’ve always enjoyed
helping others,” said Elizabeth Henry, a junior from
DeLand High School. “I remember helping my teacher
with Scholastic Book Fairs when I attended Woodward
Avenue Elementary. I helped with the orders by handing
out the books when they arrived.”
Kandi Almanza, another junior at DeLand High School,
has assisted various teachers over the years. This past
year, she shadowed Dr. Stephanie Bryson at Countryside
Animal Clinic in DeLand and today volunteers at her
high school’s Preschool Program during her lunch hour.
AWARENESS = ACTION = SUCCESS
Most high schools require a minimum of 100 hours of
community service by the time the student graduates,
Elizabeth Henry at DeLand High School
Inc. “Obtaining a good GPA is not sufficient to building
while some colleges like to see 200-to-300 hours or a well-rounded human being,” added Benzo.
more. In addition to high school test scores, community There are many opportunities for young children
service hours can be a determining factor in college
acceptance. Why is this? According to Forbes Magazine,
students who have been active in their community
are more likely to be active in school social life and
contribute to a school’s mission.
There are a host of community service activities kids
of all ages can get involved in, and seeing elders get
involved inspires children to do the same. In addition
to meeting new friends and gaining new experiences,
donating time to helping others creates a platform for
to help their community. Have them collect a pile
of books they’ve already read to donate to a school
library. Encourage them to fill a bag of outgrown
clothes and shoes to bring to a local drop box. Shop
for nonperishable foods for a food bank. Making
cookies for a homeless shelter or cards to send to
Veterans or deployed U.S. Troops can be educational,
fun and impactful – impactful on the recipient(s) of
their service and on the child. As the nation grows, our
future depends on developing more young community
developing personally in a way self-serving tasks ambassadors.
do not. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Duvall Homes
“Volunteering in one’s community builds character and by contacting [email protected]. (Resources:
the social-emotional part of children that can’t fully
develop in the classroom alone,” said Felicia Benzo,
Reasons to Get Involved, KidsHealth.org; Service Projects for
Kids, KidWorldCitizen.org)
Founder/President of CATALYST Global Youth Initiatives,
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