Project Community Outreach and welcome

Two classes at our school have decided that they want to become more active members of their community by volunteering their time and talents to some organizations here in London who help others (including animals). The organizations we have chosen so far include the London Food Bank, St. Vincent DePaul and the London Humane society (cares for abandoned animals). We are also planning on visiting with seniors/veterans in nursing home/care facilities. Lastly we want to make our community and school more of a welcoming, vibrant place by planting some trees/shrubs and flowers/plants

Update (June 18, 2011)

In February, Mr. Hilton's grade 7/8 class volunteered at the London Area Food Bank. It was a great hands-on experience of how spending a couple hours helping out, working together with friends could make a big difference. After helping to sort and package the donated items, a representative from the Food Bank discussed the importance of our volunteer service and gave us an idea of the people who made regular use of the food bank. The discussion also involved the importance of dignity and how people who tuned to the food bank for help find it shameful. We were quite moved by the discussion and wrote a short reflection about our experiences once we returned to school. We shared them with each other in a Tribes Community circle. It was amazing to hear all the feelings of empathy for others who had less. One student wrote:
“My experience at the food bank was very touching. It also came with a good feeling about giving up time at school to help out for something that is for people going through a hard time. I was honestly very shocked by the number of people that go to the food bank every month. I knew the number would be high, maybe a couple hundred not over a thousand. What really didn’t surprise me was the fact that people would be going but they are ashamed to go and threaten their dignity/pride. It didn’t surprise me because I agree nobody wants to truly admire that they lost their job or just plain going through a rough patch. In life, who would want that? Not me. I have to say it was actually fun, honestly I expected it to be the most boring hour and a half. Even though it was fun stacking cans and spending the morning with my friends and not doing school work, I couldn’t help but stop every so often to think about how sad it is that the fact that for some people the food bank was the resource to getting any food and know that the food is not the best of quality. It also only last five days and just trying to imagine what they do for the rest of the month makes me even more sad”.

Update (June 20, 2011)

In April we went to St. Vincent De Paul in downtown London. We spent our time sorting donated items and cleaning up the outside yard for the upcoming barbeque for the needy. It was tough work, but many of us expressed great feelings of pride for all of our hard work. Close to the end of our shift one of the adult volunteers explained to us how important our work was and that we were helping others in the way Jesus taught us. Many of us were moved by him saying that. It was impressive to again witness the compassion and sense of empathy that was in the written reflections from everyone that helped out that day. Here are two reflections that we wanted to share:

"My experience at St. Vincent de Paul was very eye opening. I feel this way because when you first go into the store you see furniture, clothes, toys etc. so you probably think “wow! This is a lot of stuff.” and very well priced so that people who are or a strict budget, can afford to buy what they need as their basic necessities. However, what you don’t see is what goes on behind the scenes. When you go out back there is a big room, full of bags of clothing and other things to be sorted. When you go to the basement and you see all those boxes and all the clothes hanging up is amazing. That’s when you realize how many people are going to have the basic things you need for human dignity."

“My experience at St. Vincent De Paul store wasn’t the most fun. It isn’t something I would like to do, but knowing that it was for a good cause made me feel good inside. In the basement of the store it was dusty and smelly, but then I thought of the poor people who had to deal with much worse like society looking down on them as if they were not human. Society pretty much dehumanizes the homeless and the poor so I thought to myself I have to stop being so selfish and help out or who will if I don’t?.”

Update (June 26, 2011)

After spending the past month weeding, planting and fixing up the front garden it looks amazing! It was a lot of work but for sure worth it! Together we have made a much more welcoming area that visitors will see when they come to our school. We finished our project off with some decorative cedar mulch (smells really good!) and our new park bench which we have all signed. We are going to put a protective coating on the bench so we can leave it outdoors during the school year for people to sit and enjoy the garden.

Update (June 26, 2011)

Weeding was a lot of work but was worth it as we got to plant beautiful flowers in their place! This is a great 'before' picture of what the garden looked like.

Update (June 26, 2011)

This is a sample of one of our completed parts of the garden. It looks so much better than the 'before' picture!!

Update (June 26, 2011)

Man, is this mulch ever impressive stuff!!! Makes our garden look way better!!

Update (June 26, 2011)

Planting bushes where all those weeds used to be! Looks great boys!

Update (June 26, 2011)

Expert bench assembly crew. You boys did a fantastic assembly job - it passed all the 'sit down' tests!

Update (June 26, 2011)

Our start at planting in the garden bed beside the front of the school. It is looking really good!