Averill Park Central School District Celebrates MLK Day 2011
New York State Learn and Serve America grant funds allow Averill Park Central School
District to implement a range of K-12 service learning projects including: gardening,
hunger, poverty and environmental initiatives, character education programming involving
the elderly and veterans, and student mentoring. This year, Averill Park was awarded
additional state funding for service project collaboration with a private school
located in the district’s boundaries.
Learn and Serve America funds also supported this year’s district-wide Martin Luther
King Day of Service involving two hundred and ninety-two student and adult volunteers
in the following service events:
- The girls’ high school basketball team baked nine delicious varieties of treats,
and they brought them to Ronald McDonald House.
- The boys’ middle school basketball team hosted a fun basketball clinic for 39 younger
children.
- A group of sixth graders organized “net” carnival games to benefit the international
campaign, Nothing But Nets. They raised 450 dollars to purchase 45 nets for malaria
prevention.
- An elementary Kiwanis Kids group and two Girl Scout troops worked together to make
46 cozy fleece blankets for charity.
- A group of second graders and their teacher organized boxes of books and made bookmarks
and cards to be donated to local hospitals.
- First grade students and their teacher made cards and assembled care packages for
our troops.
- Third, fourth, and fifth graders, teachers, and community volunteers packaged 230
boxes of collectible sports cards to be donated to disadvantaged children.
- Ten Boy Scouts and their parents cooked a meal for sixty homeless people at a nearby
shelter.
- A group of third and fifth graders and parents volunteered at a local community
food pantry.
- High School Key Club members and middle school students volunteered at a local daycare
center.
- A group of volunteers painted rooms at the local town library.
- Boy Scouts cleaned five trucks at a local firehouse.
- A group of elementary students baked cookies and visited local senior residents.
- Volunteers served their local community by collecting three trailers of electronics
recycling in the school’s parking lot.
Submitted by Sara Schuman, Averill Park Central School District Service Learning
Coordinator
Learn & Serve America provides funds to establish service-learning opportunities,
and civic engagement activities for in-school youth as part of their regular education
program, after school and/or on weekends. Competitive grants are awarded to local
education agencies (LEAs) – public elementary, middle, and secondary schools, school
districts or consortia of such agencies, in partnership with at least one public
or private non-profit organization with demonstrated expertise in the provision
of service.