Community Becomes Classroom On 'Great Day of Service'

Metro Atlanta became a classroom on Tuesday, March 22, when Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School upperclassmen and faculty volunteered at 15 service sites, doing familiar work, like lawn-mowing, and learning some new skills, such as cutting wood and putting up siding.

“It was fun!” said junior Amanda Gibson, after learning to hang shelves at an Atlanta Habitat for Humanity house in Southwest Atlanta.

Holy Innocents’ work was a financial blessing to Habitat, which saves money on each “build” with volunteers. “Just in labor costs, about $50,000 is saved (on each house) having volunteers come out,” explained Irene Kagika, a Habitat house leader. “It goes a long way in making our homes affordable.

"And a group like Holy Innocents’ coming out during the week makes a difference in case we are lagging behind, or trying to get ahead.”

At Clifton Sanctuary Ministries, Carolyn Morton, shelter volunteer coordinator, called Holy Innocents’ help immeasurable. “We have such a big ‘campus,’ but it’s a lot to take care of,” she said, watching students rake leaves and clean out gutters.

Two students also gave valuable computer help to a grateful veteran struggling to fill out forms for Medicaid, and others organized the shelter’s pantry. “We serve dinner to our residents 365 days a year, and they pulled together the food for tonight’s dinner,” Morton said. “Somebody’s got to do it, and to us, that’s a big deal.”

In return, after discovering several cartons of eggs, those same students learned how to make a homemade dessert. “We were going through the refrigerator and realized we had lots of eggs, and Mrs. (Niki) Simpson said, ‘I’ll teach you how to make pudding,’” Morton explained. “So they made pudding and brownies with our supplies.”

West End Community Garden & Nursery owner Haylene Green (who calls herself "the Garden Queen") was excited to have Holy Innocents’ help Tuesday, clearing some land and separating materials that will be used for garden boxes—work that helps the community project to flourish. In return, students learned something about organic gardening.

“The schools come over and they learn to farm,” said Green. “We’ll plant herbs, fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices… it’s all edible. And extra products are sold to come right back into the garden.”

Sophomores Kennedy Suttle and Logan Dorrill, for example, spent some time at West End helping to neutralize soil and separate out decomposing wood. “It means a lot to help out here in the community,” Kennedy said, “and to come together as one and make a difference.”

One of the biggest things that Morton hopes students learn on the Great Day of Service, however, has nothing to do with sorting out decomposing wood and other chores. It’s about finding a place in the community.

“We want students to know that there is place in the community for them, a place that needs whatever skills they have,” she emphasized. “Sometimes you have to try a couple of organizations before you find a good match, but there are thousands of not-for-profits in Atlanta in need of volunteer support.

“And we love the opportunity to train new volunteers and help them build the skills they’ll need in their lives.”