Fleetwood Middle School students and staff held a ‘Day of Caring’ to honor the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and give back to the community.
“This really carries on the spirit of what Dr. King would have wanted,” said Dr. Steven Katzenmoyer, middle school music teacher. “It’s giving back to the community that gives so much to us.”
For the third year in a row, about 200 students and 50 staff came together on their day off to carry out 10 different projects. They made chili for Opportunity House in Reading, made toys for cats and dogs of the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, cleaned Fleetwood Borough Hall and created structures through a ‘Canstruction’ project, serving lunch and working the store at Hope Rescue Mission. They put on a talent show and played board games with members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fleetwood, packed boxes for distribution at the Greater Berks Food Bank, made blankets for Friend, Inc. and played bingo with residents at Keystone Villa of Fleetwood.
The three-year project was initially a suggestion of FMS Counselor Jessica Cammauf.
“I went to Penn State, and I was on the track team,” said Cammauf. “Our coach would give us the day off from practice to have us go volunteer on MLK Day. I thought it would be a great thing for our students here at the middle school to do.”
The majority of this year’s events were held inside the middle school.
FMS art teacher Lisa Rowlands assisted students with making cat and dog toys in the middle school art room.
“They are making bandanas for adoption days, toys, cat scratchers and heart-shaped messages with dog bones,” said Rowlands. “We teamed up with the Animal Rescue League, and they helped us figure out which toys would be safe for the animals. I think it’s good for the kids. They are seeing that not only is this helping people, but it’s helping animals, and animals give so much to us that we can take for granted.”
Next door, staff and students worked together to make chili, brownies and corn bread for Opportunity House.
“We are making enough to feed 75 people,” said Dr. Katzenmoyer, music teacher. “Eight gallons of chili will be frozen and sent to Opportunity House either tomorrow or the next day.”
Eleven students worked diligently, browning meat, chopping onions and mixing brownies.
In the lobby of the middle school, teachers assisted students in putting together a ‘Canstruction’ project. The cans, collected by students and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, were used in a ‘Hungry, Hungry Hippos’ themed art creation that will stay in the building for several weeks.
“We have close to 2,000 cans,” said Cammauf. “Once the structure is taken apart, the cans will be donated. The other fun thing is that whichever grade level collects the most cans gets to tape the principal and assistant principal to the wall.”
Down the street at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, students put on a talent show for members of the church and community, followed by refreshments and board games.
Sienna Cowley, an 8th grader, enjoyed using her talents to give back.
“I love it,” said Cowley. “I don’t see it as giving up my day because I’m making someone else’s day better. Plus, we don’t get to have a talent show, so this is a good way to be able to sing and use our talents besides band and chorus.”
The students convinced all the teachers to come up and assist them in their own rendition of ‘Let It Go’ from the movie ‘Frozen’ as the final act.
“This is really great,” said Betty Bus, a church member. “I think it’s a good intergenerational thing, and it’s just a lot of fun.”
At Keystone Villa, students, staff and residents spent the day making fleece blankets to be donated to Friend, Inc. followed by a few rounds of Bingo.
Dick Meck, a regular visitor at Keystone Villa, was impressed by the students’ efforts.
“Volunteerism is so important,” said Meck. “These kids could’ve had the day off, but they are taking their time to contribute something. It’s a great idea, and they seem to be having a great time. This gives you a feeling that doesn’t come from a lot of other things.”
Having grown from 100 students the first year to 200 students this year, the ‘Day of Caring’ is expected to be a continued success in years to follow.
“It just keeps getting bigger,” said Cammauf. “The first year we had five events, and now we have 10. We do this as part of a school-wide positive behavior initiative, and the involvement continues to grow.”
