service

Week 16: EarthX

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April 22, 2018

EARTHx (formerly Earth Day Texas) has created the world’s largest annual forum for sharing the latest initiatives, discoveries, research, innovations, policies, and corporate practices that are reshaping our world.

This three-day, free event is held in April to celebrate progress, hope, and innovation and is the largest event in the world of its kind. EARTHx brings together environmental organizations, businesses, academic institutions, government agencies, speakers, interactive programming, and subject matter experts. The event creates a fun and engaging atmosphere for thought and experiential learning while encouraging attendees to be the change they wish to see in the world.

In 2017, EARTHx hosted more than 100,000 attendees, over 900 exhibitors, and 260 speakers. This year’s event, held April 20-22, at Fair Park, included a booth featuring Lakehill Preparatory School. The annual festival seeks to elevate environmental awareness and change the way North Texans think, live, and work. This is the seventh year that Lakehill has been featured. On Sunday, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Lakehill’s booth, educating others about sound environmental practices.

Visitors had a variety of activities available to them at our booth. They could paint silicone fish and leaves that they rolled paint onto and used to create colorful prints. Herbarium and insect collections that were created by second and third grade students were also showcased. Lakehill students in AP Environmental Science class showcased a variety of environmentally friendly projects.

A worm compost bin was available to teach visitors about the benefits of worm composting, but I avoided that activity. I was comfortable, however, engaging visitors in a fun matching game to teach about the amount of time it takes different materials to break down in a landfill.

Hundreds of volunteers give their time and talents each year to EarthX. Volunteers will help attendees engage in hands-on activities that teach children how to make a difference through science play or encourage adults to explore the many exhibits to learn what innovations are available today and ideas for a sustainable future.

Every volunteer needs to fill out an online application and e-sign a waiver before being allowed to volunteer.

Week 15: Voice of Hope

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April 14, 2018

I have been looking forward to this week’s project for awhile. I scheduled it several months ago for Lakehill’s Warrior Outreach Organization. Our high school students are always eager to volunteer with kids, and Voice of Hope offers an amazing opportunity to do engage with the children they serve. I have volunteered with Voice of Hope twice before with Lakehill‘s Community Connections Summer Camps. During those visits, we read, played games, led craft activities, and enjoyed spending time with the children in the classroom.

On this visit, half of our group worked with the children on a craft project, and then enjoyed playing games in the gym. It was an extremely cold and rainy Saturday, and not as many children as usual were in attendance. The other half of our group helped sort donations, clean, and organized the food pantry.

Founded in 1982, Voice of Hope has grown to serve more than 300 children daily in their ASPIRE after-school program and Summer Day Camp.

Voice of Hope has a rich history in the West Dallas community. The vision of Voice of Hope is to see inner-city families equipped with the resources and skills needed to overcome and break the poverty cycle and to see children success scholastically. Their mission is to nurture and train children through Biblical teaching, Christian role models, life skills coaching, and educational support. Their After School Program provides opportunities for students’ personal growth and to develop meaningful relationships with peers and supportive, caring adults.

Voice of Hope depends on volunteers to help them achieve their mission. Some volunteers work directly with children in the ASPIRE after-school program or Summer Day Camp, while others serve behind the scenes in support roles and garnering in-kind donations.

Find out about volunteer opportunities.

Week 13: National Kidney Foundation

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April 1, 2018

This week was a tough one to fit in a service project. Some weeks are like that, I suppose: something on the calendar every day and night. How do we find time to do something positive for others?

I was sorting through the mail, worrying about how to schedule a project, when I saw a postcard for the National Kidney Foundation Serving Texas (NKFST). There was a pick-up scheduled in my neighborhood coming up. My family and I spent the next several hours going through our closets with a fine-tooth comb. Items in good condition that my son had outgrown or that we no longer wore were perfect to pack up for NKFST. Organizations rely on these donations to support their mission. The donations really do make a difference.

In North Texas alone, there are 1.5 million people at risk of kidney disease. Throughout Texas, there are 3,000 people waiting for transplants and over 30,000 people on dialysis.

Donations of clothing and household items will allow NKFST to raise the funds needed to fight kidney disease in North Texas through early screening and education. It helps patients and families affected by kidney disease with aid and information. It also gives struggling families access to affordable clothing.

Clothes for Kidney is the pick-up service for NKFST. The donations are sold in bulk to area thrift stores. All proceeds from the sale of merchandise to area thrift stores benefit the National Kidney Foundation Serving Texas.

The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., a major voluntary health organization, seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.

You can schedule a pick up here. A list of acceptable items can be found here.

Week 12: East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO)

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March 24, 2018

Volunteering with animals is always a favorite project with my students. In the past, however, I have had trouble finding suitable venues where large groups of students can actually interact with the cats and dogs. I was thrilled when East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO) agreed to let me volunteer on a Saturday with a group of 20 high school members of our Warrior Outreach Organization (WOO).

We took a tour of the facility, including the animal hospital, the pet orphanage, and the cat care center. We also heard from a veterinarian at the hospital. The best part, of course, was spending time interacting with the orphan kittens.

ELPO is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of unwanted and abandoned pets in order to prevent their eventual euthanasia. Their goal is to place these animals in stable, loving homes after they are health screened, spayed/neutered, current on vaccinations, and generally in good health.

ELPO partners with both public and private like-minded organizations to educate the general public on the importance of spaying/neutering and responsible pet ownership through classes, media, and public activities.

Volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation meeting or meet personally with the volunteer coordinator before beginning volunteer duties with East Lake Pet Orphanage.

Opportunities include walking dog, socializing with the cats, and helping with fundraising events. Volunteers may also work with Second Chance Treasures, a resale shop benefiting the homeless pets of ELPO, by sorting donations, organizing displays, moving furniture, cleaning, and caring for pets onsite for adoption. Children are welcome to volunteer, but those under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Those who are interested in spending time with the animals and helping out at ELPO should start by filling out the Volunteer Application.

Week 11: Cooking for a Crew

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March 17, 2018

You know you are in trouble when a recipe begins with, “Crack 16 dozen eggs.” That’s 192 eggs! Or how about, “Marinate 50 pounds of chicken breasts.” I love to cook, but these “super-sized” recipes can make my head spin. Or at least they used to.

It’s a big job to provide sufficient quantities of the right food to athletes. My son is a high school rower, and I, along with my husband and two friends, have taken on the responsibility for the Food Tent: planning, shopping, and preparing meals for the regattas. Our goal is to fuel the 115 rowers of Dallas United Crew with healthy food during their weekend competitions.

This past Saturday, in Oklahoma City, we served three meals, along with healthy snacks throughout the day. The day began with a continental breakfast bar with bagels, peanut butter, oatmeal and toppings, a variety of yogurt, fruit, vegetables, and nuts, hard boiled eggs, and a hot egg and rice hash. Lunch included grilled chicken sandwiches (yes, 50 pounds of chicken), 20 pounds of homemade pasta salad, green salads, and more fruits and vegetables. Dinner was a make-your-own sandwich bar with a lot of options to prepare a filling meal for the bus ride back to Dallas. We make sure to have vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options available at every meal.   

Planning, shopping, and cooking for a regatta takes days. My grocery list often tops four pages and requires visits to six or seven stores to find the highest quality at the lowest price. I am so grateful for other volunteers who offer to shop for specific items, make snacks, chop endless quantities of watermelon, or bake cookies for the ride home.

I am certainly not qualified to coach a sport, but volunteering with a youth sports team goes beyond coaching. There are so many things you can do. For me, cooking tasty food for people is the best way I know to show them I care.

For the most recent regatta, I tried a new recipe for these delicious energy bites. Why not volunteer to bring some to an upcoming sporting event?

Week 9: Ferguson Road Initiative

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March 3, 2018

During my ninth week of service, I volunteered with the Ferguson Road Initiative (FRI) on their annual Operation Beautification initiative.

More than 200 volunteers, including 12 neighborhood organizations, six schools, two apartment complexes, 10 businesses, four service organizations, and three faith-based communities, pitched in to help clean up along Ferguson Road. Volunteers met in the parking lot at Ferguson Road and Lakeland, to be outfitted with trash grabbers, trash bags, and bright orange vests to increase visibility. Several neighborhood sponsors provided food and drinks to the volunteers before they set out.

Our group of 20 Lakehill students and parents cleaned along Ferguson Road, between Highland Drive and Lakehill’s Roger L. Perry Campus. In total, several hundred bags of trash and illegal signs were collected for city trash pickup.

The mission of the Ferguson Road Initiative is to transform Far East Dallas into a safe, beautiful, prosperous, and proud community by inspiring hope and working together to achieve a shared vision.

Since 1998, FRI has developed valuable partnerships with other agencies and organizations to facilitate economic development and community revitalization.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Ferguson Road Initiative, fill out the volunteer form and they will contact you as opportunities become available. You can also seek out similar community organizations in your own neighborhood.

Week 8: Crossroads Community Services

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February 24, 2018

During my eighth week of service, I volunteered with Crossroads Community Services in downtown Dallas. I worked with 15 Lakehill high school students as part of our Warrior Outreach Organization (WOO). I have volunteered several times before, with both high school students and with younger children, and always appreciate how organized, efficient, and group-friendly their projects are.

Crossroads Community Services was founded in 2001 as an urban outreach ministry of First United Methodist Church of Dallas. In 2015, the organization began operating as an independent nonprofit organization in order to gain wider community support. Their mission is to nourish low-income families by providing nutritious food and supportive education.

In addition to providing staples to families through their food pantry, Crossroads offers gently-used clothing to their food pantry clients, as well as 20-25 Stewpot clients each day. The organization also supplies diapers and wipes, new socks and underwear, household items such as linens and small appliances, and children’s toys and books. These items help to significantly supplement household incomes, allowing clients to spend the money they save on housing, utilities, or medical bills.

Crossroads Community Services needs 20-25 volunteers each day to ensure that they are serving clients quickly and efficiently. Volunteers are needed to assist clients with food and clothing selection; to receive, sort, and display donated items; to sort and package produce for distribution; and to sort and prep clothing for their Clothing Closet. When we volunteered on Saturday, we sized donated shoes and set them out for display. We also sorted and displayed coats, and bundled diapers to be ready for distribution.

Individuals and groups are encouraged to volunteer, and both weekday and weekend opportunities are available. Group sizes of 12 or less are ideal for the space, but they can make it work even for larger groups. More volunteer information and applications can be found here.

Donations of food, household items, and clothing, with a particular need for men’s shoes, are always appreciated. Donations are accepted from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 1822 Young Street in Dallas.

 

 

Week 6: Valentine’s Cards for Seniors

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February 7, 2018

For my sixth week of service, I brought first and second graders in my Lower School Community Connections Club together to prepare Valentine’s Day cards for residents at C.C. Young Senior Living. We provided red, pink, and white construction paper, scissors, glue, stickers, doilies, and markers, and let everyone get creative with the cards they made.

Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrating love and friendship. However, for many seniors, this annual day dedicated to love can be a day of increased loneliness and sorrow. Many seniors are widowed or living alone, and receiving a hand-made Valentine can help them feel connected and loved.

The cards we made were delivered to C.C. Young Senior Living to be distributed to their residents as desired. This is an easy project to pull together, and a great way for children of all ages to show their love and support for seniors.

Other great ways to get involved with  C.C. Young are to host a car wash for residents, play bingo, host a craft activity, or give a performance. Find out more here.

Week 5: Day of Service

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February 2, 2018

One of my favorite days of the year at Lakehill is our Upper School Day of Service. I started this event a few years after I started working at Lakehill, and this year we celebrated our seventh annual event on February 2.

While our eighth graders were busy learning more about high school during Freshman Visit Day, our Upper School students headed out to a variety of locations to lend a helping hand in their community. Each grade volunteered with a different organization. This year, our students and faculty logged nearly 500 hours of service before returning to campus.

For our Day of Service, I look to partner with organizations that can accommodate, and actively engage, groups of 30 or more students. I was thrilled with our service partners this year. I think the comments from the students shed light on what a special day this is for all of us.

The freshman class worked with Hope Supply Co., sorting and packing hundreds of containers of formula and thousands of diapers, as well as school supplies, for homeless children, while sophomores visited and played Bingo with senior citizens at The Brady Center. “You don’t think about how important an eraser or a pencil sharpener could be, until you realize so many children don’t have any,” said Kathryn Mahan, Freshman Class President, who enjoyed packing backpacks at Hope Supply Co. Gaige McKnight enjoyed playing Bingo and visiting with senior citizens at the Brady Center. “I met a woman who spoke limited English and, with the help of Google Translate, was able to share a conversation with her.”

Juniors sorted onions at the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), packing three pallets with more than 1,748 pounds of food, enough for 1,457 meals, for hungry North Texas families. “I am full of gratitude and thankful to have the opportunity to help people in need,” said Julia Bartholow.

Seniors joined forces with Reading Partners, to provide tutoring to students in two under-served elementary schools in DISD. “Volunteering with Reading Partners was such a rewarding experience,” said senior Toni Stark-Perez. “The children were shy, at first, but it was inspiring to see them gain confidence and start reading along.”

I am already looking forward to next year’s Day of Service, and to volunteering with these amazing organizations again soon.

Week 4: Bags of Warmth for the Homeless

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January 24, 2018

Winter, even in Texas, is a difficult time to be homeless. It might be more accurate to say especially in Texas, where we can have temperatures in the 70s one day, followed by a hard freeze the next. Cold weather can be brutal-even life threatening-for the homeless.

With the colder temperatures this January, it seemed the right moment  to focus my efforts on the homeless. Last week at Lakehill, we collected outerwear to distribute to those in need. We received so many wonderful donations of coats, scarves, hats, and mittens. As part of my fourth week of service, I worked with my Lower School Community Connections Club to prepare “Bags of Warmth,” with each containing a scarf, mittens, and a hat, plus a note from a student.

These bags, with a tag that says, “If you need this, please take it. Stay warm.” will then be given to those who are experiencing homelessness—on the street or in parks or other places where they may gather. My students and I took the bags to personally deliver while the coats we collected were donated to Dallas Life Homeless Shelter. This is a great project for children of all ages. They can also add snacks or water to the bags before they are delivered.