Pulling weeds turned out to be more enjoyable for sixth graders from Klondike Middle School because they had feathered friends circling their work area. Chickens from the Farm at Prophetstown were eager to take care of the bugs the students stirred up as they worked on the garden as part of the school’s Day of Service. 

"I think it was really fun to help at Prophetstown because it was fun to be with all of the animals they had there,” says student Vesper Hynes. “After picking weeds, the garden looked a lot nicer. We also put mulch in the garden and it made a good walkway so people didn't trample crops.”

During the morning session, another group played bingo with residents at the Indiana Veterans Home, while others pulled mustard weeds at Cary Camp. In the afternoon, students returned to school to continue their day of service by making tie blankets for YWCA Greater Lafayette, reading with elementary students and packing meals for people experiencing homelessness.

 Student Emily Tang says her favorite activity was painting a fence at Prophetstown. “We were with our friends and we were able to do things we hadn’t done before,” Emily says. “Serving the community is fun because it is fun to watch people enjoy what we are doing for them.”

Teacher Anne Brandt received a grant from the Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County to help purchase new civics books and expenses related to the Day of Service. Brandt says the activities allowed students to explore the importance of being good citizens: “Studying civics and learning to serve others will help students become productive citizens that will last throughout their life.”

In addition to the group efforts, students are pursuing individual projects. “One girl has raised $230 for an orphanage in South Africa by selling stickers, another girl did a bake sale and raised over $800 for the food pantry at her church, and another girl did a dance clinic and flower sale and raised $1900 for a boy at Klondike Elementary that has leukemia,” says Brandt. “In addition, another student raised $500 for the Lafayette Transitional Housing and bought personal hygiene products for 26 people.”