Radford Beans and Rice students participate in MLK Jr. Service Project

Radford Beans and Rice after-school students recently completed service projects in Radford as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Jan. 23.

Although school was out for Radford City children, the students in Beans and Rice’s After
School Programs at McHarg and Belle Heth spent the afternoon at Claytor Lake State Park
learning about nature, learning about discrimination and learning that helping others can he fun.

Children from the two programs in grades K-4 were supervised by Beans and Rice AmeriCorps
members and Radford University interns. The children arrived at the park shortly after noon.
They had lunch provided by Radford City Public Schools. Before moving on to the service
project of raking and bagging leaves, each child received a cap with the Beans and Rice logo.

Reactions were, “Cool!”, “Can we keep them?”, and “Can we take these home?”

One of the goals of the service project was to focus on Dr King’s statement, “Everyone can be
great because everyone can serve.” Mindy Farmer, AmeriCorps member placed with Beans and Rice at the Belle Heth program said, “Although young and little they were mighty.” In one hour the children raked and bagged 37 bags of leaves. One child commented that they didn’t know how much fun work could be. All the children had high enthusiasm for the project and some filled whole bags by themselves. The raking occurred outside of Howe House and Many Thompson, AmeriCorps member at the McHarg program, helped them read the informational sign.

The children were amazed at how old the house was. Following a brief rest and snack also provided by Radford City Schools, the children went on an Interpretive Nature Walk led by McHarg Afterschool AmeriCorps member Christina Weyant who has a background in parks, recreation, and interpretive hiking. During the hike Ms. Weyant used a game to help children learn how to identify trees. They also learned to identify evidence of animals being present on or near the trail. Many of the children had never been to the park.

They were awed by the lake and despite 40 degree weather wanted to swim in it. They were
particularly excited when they learned that “state park” meant “their park” for them to visit and use.

The hike was followed by an activity in which Trista Martin Phillips, AmeriCorps member at
the Belle Heth program read Dr Suess’ The Sneetches. In this book Suess creates star bellied
Sneetches and non-star bellied Sneetches. The star bellied Sneetches were superior and would
not play with non star bellied Sneetches nor allow them in any of their festivities. Some children were given large green stars to identify them as this special group. The children soon learned that not being able to play with their friends with no stars was no fun. One of the girls who had received a star stated she did not want to be special if she was separated from her friend. A boy quickly connected the dividing of children into star bellied and not star bellied was discrimination. He said “This is like MLK and civil rights.”

The day concluded with a dinner for children and parents provided by El Charro Mexican
Restaurant in Radford and a slide show of all activities the children engaged in during the day.

All the children were excited to see themselves on the screen and continually pointed out what
they were doing. One little girl, the youngest, said to her mother “Look, mom, I can be great
because I can help!”

This event is the second in a series of service-learning projects involving the children at the
Beans and Rice After School Program children. Beans and Rice would like to thank Claytor
Lake State Park for providing this opportunity; Radford City Schools for lunch and snacks; El
Charro for providing food for 50 at cost; and Eleven West for donating 25 of the hats.

– Submitted by Nelda K. Pearson, board president of Beans and Rice Inc.

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