set up to provide a one-hour time block after school each day for students to participate in a project. Over the years, the week of service has evolved to include events during the school day, bringing in donation items to help various community entities, and challenging other FFA chapters in a local food drive.
THE RUSK FFA WEEK OF SERVICE:
BY: B R I A N M A R T I N R U S K H I G H S C H O O L A G R I C U LT U R E S C I E N C E T E A C H E R
WEEK OF SERVICE
HOW TO START A CHAPTER
Monday: Members worked with the service-based organization Sole Hope to provide cut-out shoe patterns from donated blue jeans for children in Uganda.
The idea of starting a local service program originated after Rusk FFA members attended the National FFA Convention Day of Service back in 2013. Students who participated agreed that our chapter should try and do something similar at the local level. As with most new activities in a Program of Activities, getting started is often complicated and requires a lot of trial and error. The initial rollout of the Rusk FFA Week of Service was rocky and didn't even happen the first year due to conflict with too many other activities. The initial idea was to hold the event in the late spring. However, the fall proved to be more effective and successful. Flexibility and adaptability were vital. The concept of a week of service is to provide multiple community service opportunities to FFA members throughout an entire week. Our event was originally 26
Tuesday: Students volunteered with the Texas Forestry Service at the ID Fairchild State Forest to clear debris and preserve the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker's nesting trees from upcoming control burns. Wednesday: Members constructed wood boxes that will be distributed throughout the local area to improve the habitat of wood ducks.
