DEVELOPING COMMUNITY
AMBASSADORS
By Lisa Habermehl, Director of Marketing & Special Projects, Duvall Homes, Inc.
W
e raise our children to be polite, to play safe
and fair, to practice good hygiene, to finish
their vegetables…and to do many other
things. Well, there is another subject matter parents
and teachers impress upon children that can make a
positive impact on their future. Introducing the priceless
value of community service to children, at a young age,
helps develop caring adults with an understanding of
the many areas in need of support that surround them.
When elementary age students discover the needs of
people in their own neighborhood, and learn how they
can help, it stays with them forever and can create life-
long ambassadors of their community.
“The first time I remember helping my community was
when I was eight years old. I helped clean up debris
in the neighborhood after a hurricane,” said Dante
Picchiello, a junior at Father Lopez High School. Since
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
Dante Picchiello (right), a high school junior
from Father Lopez Catholic High School,
paints picnic tables with his classmates at
Duvall Homes, a nonprofit organization in
Volusia County that provides residential
supportive care and day training for people
with Down syndrome, autism and other
developmental disabilities.
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