On Tuesday, October 22nd, over 150 Pekin High School students took part in the school’s first Community Service Day, marking a significant effort to encourage students to engage in volunteerism and support their local communities. Organized by Pekin Community Schools, the event was designed to promote the value of community service, with the hope that students will continue to find meaning in helping others and pass it down to future generations.
Students and staff divided into teams to tackle various projects in Hedrick and Richland, Iowa. Volunteers lent a hand at several locations, including the Hedrick Park, Hedrick Civic Center, Brooks Cemetery, Angie Brown-Baetsle's home, Richland Park and town square, Richland Area Childcare Center, Richland Friends Cemetery, and Pekin Schools.
The day’s largest project involved assisting Angie Brown-Baetsle, a Hedrick resident, in moving from her home of 24 years into senior housing. This heartfelt task highlighted the true spirit of the event—giving back to those in need within the community.
Pekin High School requires students to complete 20 hours of community service in order to graduate. By organizing these service days, the school aims to give students opportunities to fulfill this requirement, especially if other volunteer options are scarce.
“We hope to make this an annual event, both in the fall and spring, so that students have even more opportunities to serve,” said organizer Christy Gambell. “The impact they made in just one day was incredible, and we’re already looking forward to planning the next one.”
For those who have projects needing assistance in the spring, please contact Christy Gambell at christy.gambell@pekincsd.org as planning for the spring event will begin soon.
Pekin Community Schools is committed to fostering a culture of service, and this event is just the beginning of what promises to be a lasting tradition.
