Late last week, Crestwood High School students joined together with volunteers from the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation (DMRC) for an annual tradition. According to CHS English teacher and faculty advisor, Christine Spencer, this is the fifteenth year of this cooperative effort between CHS and the DMRC.
“This is a great opportunity for students to give back to their community, build bridges and network with community members,” Spencer shared. “It’s a great way for students to gain an understanding of service, earn volunteer hours toward NHS or the graduation seal requirement, and get to know fellow students and community members,” she added. The community project is timed to coincide with Crestwood High School’s spirit week, which leads up to Homecoming each fall.
This year, 100 students and chaperones from Crestwood High School converged at the High School and walked to the village together. They group was met by a slew of volunteers from DMRC who led teams of work crews throughout the village, sweeping sidewalks, raking leaves, and sprucing up their hometown for fall. In addition, cheerleaders adorned shop windows to help build community spirit for the upcoming CHS Homecoming festivities. Work in the village took place from 8 am until noon.
Afterwards, Spencer shared with DMRC members, “I know it was a bit overwhelming to have so many of us all at once, but I truly think it makes a difference to have a visible presence of community and school spirit in the downtown area. Spencer added, “I had several students say that they were not in a great mood this morning, but they were so glad they came and they mentioned they even had fun.” Spencer thanked DMRC volunteers for their generous, charitable, and patient spirit in loving our kids and teaching them life skills, whether it was how to communicate, give back, be part of a community, or simply to use a garden tool. DMRC member Beth Sluka noted, “It was a great morning, full of energy and good vibes.”
Another successful collaboration is in the books, as DMRC shared on social media afterwards. “Mantua Village sparkles now thanks to Crestwood High School students who volunteered their time to wash windows, pull weeds, trim branches, and weed whip along Main Street, Prospect Street, at the Cemetery, around Buchert Park, and at the Headwaters Trail,” the post noted. They expressed gratitude to administrators at the High School for releasing students for the morning, as well as the adult volunteers who assisted them in the productive morning’s activities.
