“Making a Difference,” from Christmas trees to canned goods, the Spring Creek Adventist School students have made this their theme for the 2010-2011 school year. The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews, Think Big by Ben Carson and The Christmas Jar by Jason Wright have all helped the students to remember that they can have an effect on the world around them.
This fall, walking around neighborhoods and handing out hundreds of grocery bags, started the students on their journey of helping. Then a week later, picking up those bags, now full of food, and turning around and re-distributing that food to families in need. They did all of this with a spring in their step and “Should we knock on one more door?”
The month of November found the parents documenting all acts of kindness. Small ones like reading to a sibling to raking the neighbor’s leaves, were given a paper feather. Then for the Thanksgiving Day celebration they wore the headdresses they made from their “feathers.” There were some pretty big headdresses! Again, it was re-iterated to them how small things can make huge changes in their world. Like the small stone that creates ripples in a large pond.
December found the school collecting change to “pay it forward.” A way to thank God for the blessings He has given us all. On the last day before Christmas break the Spring Creek students had a field trip to a local Christmas tree farm. They were able to pick out the perfect tree for a local family that would not have one that year. Then they also donated the jar of change and bills to this same family, who the year before had been homeless and spent Christmas in a hotel room.
The spring will hold more opportunities for scheduled community service projects but I think that the students are creating their own moments to make a difference. With the knowledge that young people do not have to wait until they are older, they can go out with confidence to change their world now!
