How might we invigorate our community during a day of service?
Summer Liftoff was a culminating summer experience incorporating several projects in one giant full-day service extravaganza. Teams of students coordinated several experiences meant to turn back-to-school time into a fun, healthy celebration. Students were inspired to work over the summer in the topic areas of music, reading, back to school supplies, and healthy living.
The day began with a world premiere of the City Light Jams music video, highlighting the musical abilities of the kids at the City Light shelter. Next, young children were invited to the “Little Reader Pillow Party.” High school students were paired one-on-one with a child ranging from kindergarteners to fifth graders to sew a special pillowcase with a pocket for a book. Research shows that children who read books with family have higher literacy rates and continue to enjoy reading as they grow. Students sewed pillowcases and shared their favorite books with young readers.
The next portion of Summer Liftoff was, “Gear for the Year.” One of the most exciting parts of back to school time is getting new school supplies, but some families can’t afford new school supplies. The Project Good team coordinated with the Morley Nelson and Grace Jordan Community Centers to pack Gear For the Year bags of supplies specific to each grade level. Project Good students decorated and packed over 100 bags for the community centers to share with kids in need. Once the bags were packed, the Project Good team hopped on buses and traveled to the community centers to share in the good.
At each community center, the Chow Now team took half the Project Good students and all the kids at the community center to play the Chow Now relay – an interactive, high energy game that helps kids learn about the importance of each food group and how healthy eating fits into an active life. The Chow Now relay was a hit!
While half the team worked with the Chow Now Relay, the other half went to work sprucing up each community center to prepare it for the school year by sweeping, organizing, cleaning, stocking, and finding lots of missing checkers pieces. No problem is too big or too small for the capable Project Good crew!
Summer Liftoff ended with a reflection and well deserved snack at One Stone HQ – after a full day of turning the back-to-school-blues into an uplifting and revitalizing day of service.
Outcomes:
More than 75 high school students joined in the Summer Liftoff day of service.
Over 40 books and book pocket pillowcases were sewn and given to families.
More than 100 Gear for the Year bags were packed and distributed to community centers.
Summer Liftoff participants dedicated 20 work hours to cleaning community centers in preparation for the school year.
The Chow Now relay race included more than 50 participants from Grace Jordan and Morley Nelson community centers.
