Service in the News: Daylight Saving Edition
Subscribe to the Blog RSS FeedSpring is in the air... and so is service! From international soccer matches to the riverbanks of North Dakota, we have found some amazing stories about service in this week's news. Check it out.
1. U.S. Puts Heart, Hugs Before Goals, Wins
When the young women of the U.S. under-17 soccer team found out they were playing the Haitian team in the first round of the CONCACAF Championship, they immediately decided that they owed their competitors more than just a fair game. The young women reached out to their home communities and collected toiletries, clothing, and soccer gear.
At the end of the emotional game, more than just the traditional handshakes were exchanged as a sign of sportsmanship. The US team gave each of the Haitian players a backpack filled with donations along with tearful hugs. Decorated National U.S. Women's team star Abby Wambach praised the girls' efforts; "It is rare to have moments like that show up, but even more rare to actually do the right thing when they arise. It takes people who think outside of themselves to do what you all did. I believe it truly shows one's character. And to do it in the way you did was simply one of the most gracious things I've seen in a long time." Read the full article here.
2. AmeriCorps Fellows Help Students Make Dent in Poverty
Led by two AmeriCorp Promise Fellows, a group of middle school students in Minnesota took on a weekend of service projects to address poverty and community needs on both a local and global level. The students partnered with the Feed My Starving Children organization, putting together rations to send to Haiti and other countries in need, as well as volunteering in a thrift store, cleaning up a skate park, and making sandwiches to distribute to those helping with flood control and prevention in the area. The three-day program was part of the Students Today, Leaders Forever "Pay it Forward Tour." Check out the article here.
3. Students Pitch in To Help Save Town from Flood
This week thousands of homes in Fargo, ND faced the threat of severe flooding after the Red River's expected crest on Sunday. In other places, this may be a task that falls on emergency workers, but in Fargo adult workers couldn't do it alone. The heart of the volunteer corps were the city's youngest citizens, arriving on the scene by the busload, ready to help protect their friends' and neighbors' homes. High school, middle school, and even elementary school students pitched in with the sandbagging effort. Even the youngest of helpers--who were described as lugging sandbags that appeared to be the same size as they were--understood why they were there: "We're helping save people's houses so the little kids don't drown" said 8-year-old Bradley.
Hundreds of students have been enlisted to work three to four hour shifts for twelve hours a day. Gov. John Hoven said the sandbagging effort couldn't have been done without the student volunteers. "They're taking pride in helping their community and we are grateful," said the Governor. Click here and here for full articles.
4. Packing 400 Lunches and Love to Serve the Homeless
Marcia Merrick's children are full grown now, but she still wakes up every morning at 4:30am to make brown bag lunches--400 lunches, to be specific. Merrick's efforts began small, connecting friends and neighbors who could donate time or money with people in need. Today, Merrick's organization Reaching Out Inc. serves 370 homeless families in the Kansas City, MO area annually. Merrick and an ever changing group of volunteers put together hygeine bags, bake cookies, organize clothing drives, deliver the bag lunches, and work to build relationships with the city's homeless.
Merrick works not just to provide resources for the homeless, but also to help uphold their dignity. "I truly believe that we can make a difference in their lives, and I don't want anybody to ever think that somebody doesn't care" says Merrick, "They're homeless, but they're still human." Read more here.
