Community Service at DuFief Elementary

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The DuFief PTA Community Service Committee was created in early 2000 with the vision of teaching our young children the value of not only caring for their community, but to be aware that they are indeed a very important part of their community. Exposing children to the many others that are less fortunate not only increases self-awareness, but also brings out the best in them. They are compelled and driven to help, and at the same time, they are building their own self worth. Time and time again, we have been amazed and impressed with the students' enthusiasm and perseverance throughout many of our events.

The events that the Committee has developed are, indeed, created solely for the students' personal participation. There are several different types of events held throughout the year such as drives, making meals or crafts for those in need, visiting the elderly, and just the gift of time (e.g. loading donations during recess). Also, during a "sudden crisis", the Committee promotes and supports students to individually volunteer on their own with their own ideas. Here are some examples of our events.

Closet Cleanout is a drive where a collection of clothing is donated to a designated organization.
Gleaning For Good is an event that takes place on a scheduled day off where students (with a responsible adult) drive as far as 60 miles to pack surplus fruit in a warehouse which is distributed to shelters throughout the metropolitan area. Our very first year, we packed 20,000 pounds of pears.
The Teddy Bear Campaign is a drive where students donate gently used stuffed animals that were donated to terminally ill men, women and children. We have donated over 400 stuffed animals.
Share Some Sunshine is one of our favorite events held on a scheduled day off. Over 35 students have traveled to a local nursing and rehabilitation center to entertain the residents as a group and also to perform their very own individual talents. After all the entertaining, the students and residents work together and make a craft which is then presented to the residents as a gift from the students.
Bag Lunch Bunch is another favorite of the students where on a scheduled early release day, the students personally decorate and make bag lunches for a designated homeless shelter. There were over 60 students involved in the 2003 event.
Flowers For Friends, a new event for the 2002-2003 school year, involved students planting one tulip bulb each on school grounds during recess. In spring when the flowers bloom, the tulips will be cut and donated to a designated organization.
Spring Spruce-Up is a workday where parents, students and business partners in our community clear up and work on the outside of our school.
Meals On Wheels provides an opportunity for students to brighten someone's day by creating hand-made gifts for Meals on Wheels participants.

There are several other events, new and old that we plan to take on this year and in years to come. We have been so proud of our students for making each and every one of our events a huge success, where each year is more successful than the last. Please visit our other Community Service pages and read about specifics of this year's Community Service events. Click on the images in the right column to view them.

Spring Spruce Up

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Last updated on February 2, 2003
Maintained & Edited by
Deb Vaughn