After a two-year hiatus, the TKHS Service Day was reinstated this year. “It’s a great opportunity for our kids to get out and give back to the community that supports us so much,” said High School Principal Tony Petersen.
He said he was appreciative of all the students, staff and community members who made this day successful. “We had about half our students out in the community in different areas,” he said. “It felt really great to be out connecting with the community again.”
Students played Bingo with residents at Carveth Village. They washed windows for the residents and spruced up the entranceway and garden beds.
The Reclaimed Spirit sculpture in front of McFall got some attention from students as they cleaned around the area. More than six garbage bags of trash were filled at Spring Park where students said they were surprised by how much garbage and litter was in and around the park.
Mt. Hope Cemetery received a spring cleaning as well with students putting down fresh mulch and raking up debris. Students worked to clean out flower beds around the Thornapple Township Office and put down fresh mulch for the new growing season.
Work crews were scattered along the Paul Henry Trail in Middleville and at Caledonia’s Lakeside Park. They worked at Camp Manitoulin, Yankee Springs Park, and Pierce Cedar Creek. They helped clean up areas of the Freeport Cemetery.
Groups of students sorted books for the summer YMCA B.Bus and cleaned books in the Thornapple Kellogg Library. Others visited McFall to read books to the youngest students.
Wheelbarrow loads of mulch were transported from a pile at the back of the middle school to the garden beds. More than three dump truck loads of limbs cut from trees at the high school were hauled away and the areas raked clean around the trees. A group of students walked around the high school picking up garbage and another group worked at the bus garage, helping with general clean up there.
There was no shortage of projects for students opting to stay in the high school for the morning. They made duct tape wallets for a local ministry; turned old t-shirts into dog chew toys for the Animal Shelter and bags for United Way. They used artistic abilities to decorate labels for IV bags for DeVos Children’s Hospital, paint happiness rocks, and decorate lunch bags for Kids Food Basket.
They picked up needles and thread and learned to sew sleeping bags for the homeless, made biodegradable seedling holders then planted seedling starters of green beans and sunflowers in honor of Earth Day. And some took a few minutes to write a special note of thanks to service men and women.
High school teachers and staff rolled up their sleeves and joined in right alongside the students.
Petersen said he wanted to thank all the organizations and groups that allowed the high school students and staff to work on projects and work alongside the students in many cases.
“It’s just a great day. Our students learn about giving back to the community and showing appreciation for the support we receive,” said Petersen.