Prior to Memorial Day and the unofficial start of the summer outdoor season, groups of Crestwood students from the seventh and eighth grade took time out from their end of year school schedules to help clean up their hometown. Over a dozen students worked during the morning shift, with roughly 20 more working in the afternoon. These students had the opportunity to get hands-on learning through MaryBeth Thigpen’s Community Service class at Crestwood High School.
According to research, volunteering provides students with the opportunity to apply classroom experiences and learning to practical scenarios with real outcomes. It also provides an opportunity to practice what is learned in the classroom, with the added benefit of positively impacting and improving the lives of others and the community. And a drive through the village can attest to those improvements.
Together with DMRC members and Crestwood teachers, the students pulled weeds from sidewalks along Main, First, College, and Prospect Streets. Groups also cleaned up the mini park near R44 Coffee shop and around the Post office, Quick Mart and gas station. In addition, one group pulled the weeds growing on the basketball courts at Buchert Park, getting them game-ready for ball-players of all ages to enjoy the park.
This semi-annual event is hosted by Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation (DMRC).
“We love getting Crestwood and DMRC together in such volunteer efforts,” DMRC President Toomas Tubalkain shared. “Instilling the importance of volunteerism at an early age is very important,” he noted. “That’s what living in a small, caring community helps achieve.”
