Edgewood High School students, faculty and staff, and parents took part in the 20th annual Edgewood in the Community service day recently, helping at more than 50 Dane County nonprofit organizations. (Contributed photo) |
MADISON — Edgewood High School (EHS) is built on a foundation of Catholic service to the community.
On a recent Wednesday, the entire EHS community — including students, faculty and staff, and parents — put down the books for a day of volunteering during the 20th annual Edgewood in the Community Day.
Opportunity to connect
This service day jump-starts students’ excitement for the school’s mission to serve and gives them an early opportunity to connect with work and organizations they may serve in the future.
After a prayer service in the morning, students boarded buses that took them to randomly assigned locations.
Students worked in groups that included members of all four grades, a faculty/staff leader, and sometimes a parent volunteer.
EHS volunteers served meals, harvested pantry vegetables, tutored children, cleaned community centers, and spent time with seniors and more, at more than 50 Dane County nonprofit organizations.
Volunteer service
Edgewood in the Community is just one component of Crusader volunteer service.
Every school year, students volunteer about 15,000 hours, and each student graduates with at least 100 hours of service. Most give more than 200 hours and some considerably more.
Students also complete many volunteer projects during the summer.
EHS student Maya Alberts described her summer volunteer work with Three Gaits Equine, Inc., a therapeutic horsemanship center for people of all ages with a wide range of abilities and special needs.
“Every Tuesday throughout the summer, I would help groom and get the horses ready while also helping assist lessons. It was great service, and I had fun doing it,” she said.