Middle school students are active in community service in many ways. Each grade level participates in at least one service project as a group—for example, seventh graders volunteered at the Food Bank of Eastern Central North Carolina one year, while sixth graders made cards and gave them residents of a memory care community. We encourage other opportunities as well. Our student leadership group, the St. Timothy’s Student Council, chose to collect items for the Salvation Army of Wake County Women and Children’s Emergency Shelter. For several years in a row, the Student Council has also hosted Rise Against Hunger events, preparing over 10,000 meals each time. Each spring, students produce and participate in a talent show to help support a charity of their choosing.
For all service opportunities, we work to support students in developing perspective by learning context and background about the task they are undertaking and the people they are serving. Truly understanding the work makes it concrete and meaningful, helping to create engaging and thought-provoking conversation before, during, and after each act of service.
