By Erin Dawley,
Educational Technician,
Martel Elementary School
Helping out around the school, doing things for teachers and other staff, is something that Martel School students are always happy to do. There are some students, however, that donate their time to community organizations, even after school hours, when they could be playing with friends or participating in other leisure activities. They do not get paid for their efforts, but instead selflessly volunteer their services to people and places that need them.
One popular group is the Boy/Girl Scouts of America. Fifth-grade students Matthew Reed, Andrew Stretton, and Hannah Rodrigue; third graders Jacob Reed, Alexander Stretton, Nathan Morin, and Sabrina Kunc; and sixth grader Cassie Gendreau all participate in the Boy/Girl Scouts. The Scouts spend a lot of time volunteering in our community working on various projects to beautify and better our town.
Some students help their younger peers. For example, sixth grader Leah Fournier volunteers at her mother’s daycare center, and her classmate, Laura Catavenis, babysits for a family friend. Fifth-grade student Jessica Leeman and sixth grader Alexis Proulx both work with children at their churches. Fourth-grade students Kyle Fenderson and Lauren Stockwell both participate in a program at the Lewiston Public Library called Book Buddies. Developed by Children’s Librarian David Moorhead, this program has students from local schools read to younger children. It is designed to help motivate younger students to enjoy reading.
Some Martel students work with animals. Sixth-grade student Sarah Levasseur gives her time to the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), walking dogs, taking care of cats, and cleaning cages. Kyle Fenderson volunteers at a pet supply shop in Auburn, helping to care for the animals there. Fifth-grade student Gabrielle Porter cleans a barn where several horses stay. Since Porter rides, she figures it is a nice way to give back to the horses.
All of these students help others simply because they enjoy donating their time. They do not ask for anything in return, yet they are rewarded in a very valuable way. They come away from the experience with the knowledge that they have made a genuine difference for someone else. Whether it is working with children, adults, or even animals, Martel students are willing to give whenever and wherever they can to make our community a better place.
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