To volunteer at Kennesaw Mountain: www.kennesawmountaintrailclub.org
Kicking off the new school year with a mission to give back, 80 sophomores of The Walker School cleaned up various locations around Kennesaw Mountain. Instilling the importance of community service has been an integral part of the Cobb County school since its founding.
“The school encourages and provides opportunities for students to be active in community service projects,” said Malanda Murchison, upper school math teacher and project leader of the Kennesaw Mountain cleanup event. “It allows them to make a difference, learn new skills, meet new people and solve real-life problems through hands-on experiences.”
Along with the Kennesaw Mountain clean-up, collecting supplies for soldiers overseas, collecting canned food for the Salvation Army and toys for the Toys for Tots program are just the many ways that the school has encouraged its students to give back and engage with the community.
Isabel Schmieta, a tenth grader, completed her first community service project at Kennesaw Mountain with the school. Although she volunteers with The Root House Museum, “I had never participated in a project where physical changes were made,” she shared. “It was really great to see that our work helped beautify Kennesaw Mountain.” Schmieta and other classmates worked on the drainage system during the service project.
The community service project was specific to The Walker School, but Kennesaw Mountain looks for volunteers to help clean up and beautify trails, bench construction, litter control and more.
Murchison added, “By including community service projects with academics, arts and athletics, we are proud to encourage our students to be better and stronger people.”
In other news: Bert's Big Adventure is now accepting applications for 2015 families to be considered for their large annual trip to Walt Disney World in February 2015. Bert's Big Adventure is a non-profit organization that provides an all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World for children with chronic or terminal illnesses and their families. Information: bertsbigadventure.org.
In other news: In advance of last weekend's races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, racer Aric Almirola stopped by an Arby's restaurant in McDonough Friday to support the Arby's Foundation and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign to help combat childhood hunger. Through Sept. 28, Arby's restaurants across the country are encouraging guests to join the campaign. teaming up with their guests to help put an end to childhood hunger in America. The goal of this year's fundraiser is to raise more than $3.2 million nationally, surpassing last year's record amount of $3 million. Guests who donate $1 or more at participating restaurants will receive a pin-up card to sign and hang on the walls of the restaurant to show their support.
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