Students, parents and teachers at Mitchell Elementary spent their second Martin Luther King holiday in as many years working on service projects to help local charities.
“You guys do good work,” parent Donna Sehn told two fourth-graders counting out 66-cans of vegetables for the food pantry at Christian Action Guild. Mitchell students and parents contributed the cans.
“It’s a day of service and a day of giving back,” said Mitchell principal Ryan West. The more than 100 students volunteered their time during the morning of Jan. 18.
Fifth-grader Brianna Port, 10, cut hearts out of patterned paper to make Valentine’s Day cards to be sent to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“(Martin Luther King) changed a lot about how we treat each other,” Port said.
Rudy and Harvey, two dogs up for adoption at the Table Mountain Animal Center attracted quite a crowd.
Mitchell families contributed food, toys and funds to the center. Children decorated donation collection boxes with photos of animals at the shelter.
“Last year we made $950 including our material donations,” said TMAC board member Julie Behrens.
A troop of girl scouts who meet at Mitchell baked homemade doggie treats for children with animals at home.
The Golden Optimist Club accepted bicycle and helmet donations. The club makes repairs and gives the vehicles out to people in the community. They also contribute school supplies.
“There are some kids that just need a bicycle,” said Optimist Craig Baker. To help fund their charity, the club sells Christmas trees each holiday season.
“I think doing stuff like this is really fun,” said fifth-grader Spencer White, as he sipped juice and traced out a blue Valentine.
White said he planned to spend his afternoon biking.