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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Saturday, October 31, 2009 10:00 AM

Volunteer spirit on display

Last Friday, I witnessed something wonderful in Ottawa.

More than 100 Ottawa High School and Ottawa Middle School students gathered at 9 a.m. in the OHS Cyclone Room to give up their day off in exchange for a morning of service to their community. Spearheaded by the energetic OHS student body president, Abby Guenther, these youth were given opportunities to select the volunteer project they were most passionate about, as part of Make a Difference Day 2009 in Ottawa.

I wish you all could have seen the smiles on the faces of the COF consumers and the students as they “competed” in volleyball and kickball. It was amazing to see them build up one another on and off the court. Other students painted over graffiti at the skate park, created ceramic bowls for hunger awareness, interviewed local veterans, delivered homemade treats to Meals on Wheels recipients, painted murals and street markers to increase school spirit, and collected toiletries for victims of domestic violence and canned goods for local families in need. These young people gave up their time to make a difference in other people’s lives. That is one lesson not taught from a textbook. It comes from the heart.

This would not have been possible without the shining example of sacrifice and service shown by some of Ottawa’s finest teachers and administrators. OHS Principal Rick Johnson was in attendance to support the youth efforts, as well as OHS faculty Cherry Coen, Natasha Jenkins and Joleen Thompson, who each led youth in projects within their departments.

From OMS, Temie Lehman, Bari Deardorff and Miriam Lemp were all smiles as they volunteered with their students at OHS and the Country Mart Food Drive for East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp. Cari Haliburton of East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging connected our students with local veterans to record their stories of service. Audrey Oestricher of Teen Court led her youth in volunteer service all morning with paintbrushes in hand.

To all who were with us last Friday morning, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your participation. You make a difference. It is an honor to volunteer with you and to be a part of such a caring community.

— Lisa Rivers, Ottawa Volunteer Center director

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Volunteer spirit on display

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.