Westfield Schools Holds Community Service Week (Photos)

WESTFIELD, NJ - The civic-mindedness in Westfield Public Schools was on display as part of the Community Service Week events.

Through the coordinated efforts of school Parent Teacher Organizations, students across the district packed lunches, designed greeting cards, made care packages, picked up litter, and participated in many other activities as a way of giving back to those in need.

Community Service Week saw parent volunteers coordinating and organizing the many activities. The elementary school activities took place outside of school hours and followed the same basic format of different stations with projects in support of homeless shelters, fighting hunger campaigns, senior citizens, rescue animal organizations, and others in need of charitable help.

At Lincoln School, the youngest learners colored a pictures for Color A Smile, a non-profit organization that “distributes cheerful drawings to senior citizens, our troops overseas, and anyone in need of a smile.” The intermediate schools used a portion of their lunch periods to participate. At Roosevelt Intermediate School, parents organized and directed the assembly of snack packs to be given to the Rotary Club of Westfield’s backpack initiative for children who receive food assistance through school programs but who may not have enough to eat throughout the weekend. Students at Edison volunteered their time as well during a portion of their lunch period to create birthday cards for the troops, dog treats for local animal shelters, and care packages, felt hats, and extra lunches for people in need.

A sea of Westfield High School students crossed from WHS to the Armory on March 15, delivering nearly 2,000 sorted/bagged toiletries assembled that morning for local charitable organizations including the Westfield non-profit Bonds of Courage which supports our troops, veterans and their families. "It's always nice to see the school come together in such a great way," said Community Service Club President Emma Wolynez.

“It was such a great day,” said WHS-PTSO co-presidents Monica Bergen and Liz Miller, who thanked parents for their generous donations. “All of the students were so happy to be a part of this important outreach.”

Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan thanked all who organized and participated in Community Service week, adding “This amazing, well-coordinated week of community service truly embraced the school district’s mission of partnering with families and community to educate our students to reach their highest potential as productive, well-balanced and responsible citizens.”

Photo 1 Caption: Roosevelt Intermediate School students assemble snack packs for the Rotary Club of Westfield’s backpack initiative which helps children who receive food assistance through school programs but who may not have enough to eat throughout the weekend.

Photo 2 Caption: Franklin fourth grader Whitney Crooks creates a colorful greeting card to be given to patients newly diagnosed with Type I Diabetes as part of Community Service Week in Westfield Public Schools.

Photo 3 Caption: Students at Edison Intermediate School make dog treats for local animal shelters as part of a districtwide Community Service Week in Westfield Public Schools.

Photo 4 Caption: During Community Service Week in Westfield Public Schools, Tamaques School fourth grader Katelyn Tacktikos creates a bookmark to go along with books collected for Bridge of Books whose mission is to provide books to underserved children throughout New Jersey.

Photo 5 & 6 Caption: A sea of Westfield High School students cross from WHS to the Armory, delivering nearly 2,000 sorted/bagged toiletries for local charitable organizations including the Westfield non-profit Bonds of Courage which supports our troops, veterans and their families.

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