SPARTAN SERVICE

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community. Many struggle to find the time and effort to participate in the act. However, they may need to reconsider and look into all the great opportunities and qualities that go along with volunteering. Volunteering is important because it can boost self-confidence and esteem. Naturally, when volunteering it gives off a sense of accomplishment. Beyond just helping the people volunteering, it helps the community. It can help eliminate poverty, improve basic health and education, conquer environmental struggles, and help those less fortunate. Here at Lakeview High School, we have tons of students passionate about volunteering and plenty of opportunities to get involved!

National Honor Society is a great organization in our school that pushes for volunteering. National Honor Society, often shortened to NHS, is an organization for high schoolers that promotes leadership, service, character, and scholarship.

To become a member of the National Honor Society, it is mandatory to have over a 3.5 GPA. Once one becomes eligible, they will be looked at based on the four pillars. If admitted into the club, it is required to have 15 service hours and regular meeting attendance to remain a member. It is truly an honor to be a part of this club and it can provide great opportunities and experiences.

Regan Damore who is a senior at Lakeview High School has been a member of National Honor Society for 2 years and this year has been voted for by her fellow members to be the secretary.

Damore has always enjoyed volunteering and has been involved in volunteering programs since seventh grade.

“Volunteering makes me feel fulfilled and happy. I know I am doing something good and helpful that will bring a smile to someone’s face,” senior Damore said.

Damore recognizes how volunteering can affect others and knows she is making a difference with her actions. She uses her knowledge about the effects of volunteering to spread awareness and inspire others to volunteer from her position in NHS.

“Volunteering is important because it not only helps our community, but it also teaches you that small acts of kindness can really go a long way and there is always time to set aside to help others,” Damore said.

The application is now online.

Key Club is another amazing club at Lakeview that gives students a way to get volunteering in our community. Key club is an international network of high school students devoted to giving back to their community through volunteer work. Lakeview’s chapter has volunteered at places such as the Charitable Union and Lakeview Assisted Living. As well as done volunteer projects such as bell ringing. Addison Little was encouraged to join Key Club by her friend who was in the club. Little loves giving back to the community and is inspired by the feeling it fills her with. With her joy for volunteering and her friend’s en- couragement, Little finally joined Key Club. When she joined, she realized how much volunteering makes a difference in people.

It was not the first time Key Club has hosted an event at Lakeview Assisted Living. This past month, Key Club held a Bingo and Trivia Ceremony at Assisted Living Home.

First, key club members set out bingo cards and lead rounds of bingo for the elderly. Every time someone would win, members handed out fun-size candy as their prize. The elderly loved bingo and really got into it.

There were regular rounds, and then at the end, there were special rounds where winners got bigger prizes. To win the special rounds, players had to fill out the whole card to win prizes such as lotion, candle, and even a bird statue.

After they played Bingo for a while, they switched to trivia. Trivia was short lived as players got tired. Key members were there from 10-12 and look forward to their next volunteering event.

“With a lot of our volunteer events, we like to include the senior living center. It is really cool to see their faces light up when we walk in there to play bingo with them or do other fun activities with them,” senior Addison Little said.

Seeing the happiness on someone’s face when helping them is very special and Key Club strives to create that happiness.

If you are interested in joining Key Club, all that needs to be done is to show up to the meeting. Anyone is welcome and can contact Mrs. Rangel with any questions.