MONROE -- Union Academy Charter School held its annual school-wide community service event on March 15. The K-12 student body completed projects for four local non-profit organizations in this year’s event.
All K-12 students participate in community service throughout the school year; however, once a year the entire campus comes together to serve the community.
“It’s so important that as a school we provide experiences that not only support our mission of Challenge, Character and Community, but truly give students an opportunity to serve others. UA’s annual Community Service Day offers fun, learning and collaboration on our K-12 student family groups,” said Cynthia Mitchell UA’s K-12 Character Coach.
Students are teamed up across grade levels to create “families” for the year. During the school year, high school and middle school students work with their elementary families to build character, celebrate birthdays, support academics, and create friendships. Communications Director Jennifer Smith said: “As Union Academy has grown over the years, we’ve focused on retaining the community school atmosphere by building in days and opportunities for our K-12 students to work together. It’s one of the events I love the most because our students are focused on serving others while having a great time.”
The ODD Sock Project was the main focus for this year’s service day. UA collected odd and mismatched socks for students to sort and pair together by size. The ODD Sock organization delivers the socks to nonprofits that have clients who need them. According to their website, “socks are the most needed but least donated article of clothing in homeless shelters.”
Student Body President Tucker Hall said: “I love community service day, not only because of how we are able to help those in the community but also being able to bond with the younger kids. It's nice to be a senior and know I'm leaving the school in good hands with kids so much younger than me yet just as willing to help.”
Students had letters and cards to share at the Union County Council on Aging and made colorful pet scarves for Adopt a Pet.
The last project “Bracelets for a Cause” allowed students to vote for their favorite local nonprofit. The bracelets they create will be sold at the UA Carnival in May and the profits will be donated to the nonprofit the students chose.
Volunteer Coordinator Amanda Watkins said: “Today was an absolutely amazing day where I got to witness our three C's being put into action! Students used the character traits that have been instilled in them since day one.They built community amongst themselves but also worked together to promote and help causes in their community. Finally, the challenge came in watching the students be educated about and learn how they could make a difference with the different non-profits in the area.”
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