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Students volunteer and
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- By Bill Dunn
- The Capital Times
Led by a first-year teacher, students in five high school classes have put the social back in studies.
Ann Hague's freshmen and sophomores collected cash and goods worth about $11,000 in two weeks' worth of volunteer activities. The proceeds go to six area nonprofit groups.
It's not easy to put a value on the consciousness that was also raised, but Hague thinks the project will pay dividends far into the future. It was part of a unit on government and citizenship.
"I wanted them to have an opportunity to see what it's like to volunteer," she said. "I also wanted the community to see the kids as a positive part of the community."
"Students collected more than 1,000 food items for food pantries." |
The 118 students discussed ideas and voted which groups to work for. The carrot at the end of the stick was not having a semester final exam for the class that raised the most.
Eighth-hour students working for Wisconsin-Nicaragua Partners won that prize, with $4,300 worth of donations, including medical supplies that will go to a poor Nicaraguan hospital.
Other recipients were AIDS Support, Middleton Outreach Ministry, Madison Food Pantry, Special Olympics and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Several businesses supported efforts with prizes and the use of their premises.
The AIDS group sponsored a $5 car wash at Rusty's and an 11-team basketball tournament at the school.
A lot of people who had their vehicles washed made extra donations, said Zeke Hellenbrand, who estimated he helped wash 20 cars in about three hours.
"They were really pleased we were out there trying to raise money for a good cause," he said.
Hellenbrand said that once students got organized and into the spirit of things, the competitive aspect was put on the back burner. He also saw his classmates grow in responsibility.
"Getting people to step forward and take leadership was probably the hardest thing to accomplish," he said.
ShopKo near West Towne let students set up a table for juvenile diabetes. A class member is insulin-dependent.
Students also went door-to-door and netted $2,500 overall.
"I was surprised how many people we encountered who said they knew someone with diabetes," said Andy Felton, who has a couple of friends who are affected.
Students collected more than 1,000 food items for food pantries, which Hague said was remarkable due to two other unrelated drives at the same time.
The Special Olympics team held a fund-raiser at Bowling Green and sponsored a tourney in which special ed students participated.
The Nicaraguan aid effort brought in "an incredible amount of supplies," Hague said, including crutches, clothing, air casts, bandages and other equipment.
Student Annie Emmenegger's mother Rita, a nurse who's been on several missions to that country, will ensure the supplies arrive safely.
Posted June 14, 1999
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