Winning Futures’ students began exploring the benefits of participating in community service this week. Working alongside their mentors, students undertook a variety of projects such as:
- Creating custom flower pots for donation to American House senior living center.
- Making teddy bears and pillows for distribution to the Walton Wood Senior Living Center.
- Crafting pillows for various homeless shelters.
- Making Fleece Blankets for Day House, a Detroit-based homeless shelter.
- Building bird feeders for area environmental groups.
- Making “friendship bracelet” craft kids for patients at Children’s Hospital.
“We want to teach students that volunteerism and helping out in your community is a win-win situation,” said Winning Futures’ Vice President and Program Director Laurie Tarter. “It demonstrates to schools and employers the individual’s strength of character and willingness to ‘give back,’ while making the volunteer feel good about making a positive difference in somebody else’s life.”
After the lesson and activities were completed, students were encouraged to continue seeking out community service and volunteer opportunities on their own.