Laughing and chanting were the sounds heard around Jubilee Acres Friday morning as about 300 students, parents, and faculty of Faith Christian School cleared paths, mulched, and rebuilt trails at the Rescue Mission summer day camp.

Project Faith was well underway at 8:45 a.m. and students were repeating chants led by their student leaders and SGA President and Crew Chief Bryan Strelow.

“I think we are going to get our job done. We have a lot of manpower and the pre-planning really helped,” Strelow said. “Every year they give us a bigger project and we always finish it. It shows our work ethics.”

Organizers and Strelow began planning for the event last fall. By January they had chosen a place to conduct their community service. In years past, the school has done community service with the greenways, building and clearing trails. For the past two years the students have done community service for the Rescue Mission.

“We got too big for greenway. Even though we are getting larger, we didn’t want to separate the kids,” said Susan Childs, assistant director of development. "It is important for all of them to see each other coordinating in team and working together."

Committees are formed and they meet weekly throughout the planning process. Prior to the event, crew chief Strelow and other Student Government Association officers visited Jubilee Acres with the logistical committee to map out the area, plan parking and decide where each team would work.

Students collected their own tools from their families and sent out letter to grandparents and relatives asking for sponsorship donations prior to the service. The students had a goal of $95,000, while the parents on the committee to solicit were seeking $25,000 from local companies.

"Some companies donated from $300 to $2,000," said Tim Lilley, committee member and parent of a second-grader. "It feels good to have a good team to make this happen. God has blessed our efforts."

Faith Christian's total overall goal was to raise $120,000 with more than 2,000 donors.

As of Monday, April 28, Faith Christian had exceeded their their goal of $120,000 and raised $122,228, more than they ever have in a single event.

"We expect that amount to be very close to $125,000 by the end of the school year," Childs said. "We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the service project and with the much-needed funds we raised for the School. What a blessing!"

The students broke into teams according to grade. The upper school work blue T-shirts and the lower school wore green T-shirts, designed by their own peers. Students were able to submit art for the design of the shirt, which was later voted on by SGA. The winners were unveiled at a later time and the winners were given prizes.

"We have a vision," Headmaster Samuel Cox said. "A mind for truth, a heart for Christ, and a will to serve. All three are important and interwoven. What naturally comes out of 'a will to serve' is serving the community. To get everyone together for one event is huge."

"Never are there complaints and the groups we work with are always impressed with our work ethic," Cox said.

Which may be because the students themselves know they are doing a service for their homeless peers.

In preparation for Project Faith, Childs said the students participate in assemblies with members of the Rescue Mission to learn more about the people they are serving and to see pictures.

Etta Woodson, an eighth-grader, said that this was her first Project Faith and first year at Faith Christian.

"I think it is awesome just hanging out with friends and not necessarily that this work is fun, but we make it fun," Woodson said.

Third-grader Rachel Wills said that this project made her feel good because, "I'm helping kids," she said.

Stacey Lilley, chairperson for Project Faith this year, was pleased with the outcome. "I think it's been great. The students' energy and team unity has been greater this year than any other year. It's been so easy because they are excited and the fact that this is for kids has helped."

"People don't have a sense of what this takes," she said.

Lilley recalled a kindergarten student who approached her and said, "This is more fun that I thought I was going to have today." And a second-grader told her, "I was so excited I couldn't sleep."

"The organizational component -- it's been a great experience having a deeper role. All the hours put in, the details, there is a lot to do," Lilly said.

Crew Chief Strelow said, "All the volunteers and people that aren't students or connected with the school officially, they are incredible. I have a lot of admiration for them."

Lee Clark, director of development for the Rescue Mission, was just as excited as the kids to witness the community service.

"It feels great to look around and see all that's going on. We were up here Wednesday and there were trees laying across the playground and brush. This is our camp for kids, this is where homeless kids can come and just be kids and get away from the stresses of being homeless," Clark said.

"We wouldn't have had it done to this extent," Clark said, if Faith Christian had not come out today. "This is the first time we've had the trails cleared. It's a huge service to the Rescue Mission."

Students and faculty at Faith Christian will find out if they reached their goal at their Pancake Breakfast, Friday, May 2. Students will also be able to watch a video of themselves working and view pictures. Prizes will be awarded for team spirit, etc. And of course, if they do reach their goal, Headmaster Cox will shave his head.

Top photo: Fourth-grader Brice Hinkle and eighth-graders Susannah Haig and Hannah Alley helped clear out part of a trail at Jubilee Acres.

Bottom photo: Sixth-grader Craig Kaltenbach and fourth-grader Noah Pool work together to clear a section of a trail.

• Share this entry
  • Digg this entry
  • Mark in Ma.gnolia
  • Tag with del.icio.us
  • Seed Newsvine
  • Post to Google
  • Add to Yahoo!
  • Share on Facebook
  • Submit to Reddit
  • Related at Technorati
• Posted by emily flora in Schools and educationSchools and education
• :: Comments (1)