Keeping Heroes Warm (and Cold)

This year’s Advisory groups have gotten underway with their service learning projects. Service learning is an educational strategy through which young people learn more about themselves and their world through active participation in thoughtfully organized and meaningful service experiences that meet real community needs, are integrated into the curriculum, and provide structured time for students to reflect on the meaning of their service.

Metro received a small Learn and Serve grant from the Ohio Dept. of Education that provided supplies to Advisory teams for projects that met particular requirements. Each Advisory that wanted to apply for a grant of up to $500 had to submit a proposal for their project that included a narrative, a budget and a work breakdown structure.

I was asked to serve as the proposal reviewer. One particular group, Mr. Ladd’s Advisory, submitted a proposal that was interesting to me. They wanted to help the soldiers in Iraq and Afganistan by donating to the organization Operation Gratitude. Their proposal requested funding to buy items to hold fund raising events that would allow them to raise more money to donate. Their goal was admirable . . . but I needed to help them understand that fund raising has a place but is not exactly “service learning.”

I visited the Web site for Operation Gratitude and found that they accept cash donations to create comfort packages to send to the troops, but they also encourage donors to give items to include in the packages. In particular, the organization provides knitted scarves and fleece neck warmers called “gaiters” in Christmas packages and “cool ties” (neck coolers that contain polymer granules that stay cool when soaked in water) in spring packages. So I had a discussion with Mr. Ladd’s Advisory about the difference between simply raising money and making gifts with their own hands that would bring comfort to the soldiers. “Imagine how good you’ll feel knowing they are keeping warm or cool by wearing items that you made yourself. Service learning requires you to give of your time, energy and talents.”

Their response was positive. Of course I heard, “I can’t sew! I don’t know how to knit!” But within a few days I received a revised proposal that requested funding to purchase yarn, needles, fabric, polymer granules and two inexpensive sewing machines. One student’s mother took this on as a project of her own—helping them find the items and teaching them to use the sewing machines! Her daughter Abby is an expert at crocheting, so Abby became the crochet coach.

I’m happy to say that the students made very nice scarves and gaiters in time for the Christmas package deadline! They plan to continue their work by making the cool ties for shipment in the spring. They all had a lot of fun and were very proud of their work on the day the items were shipped to Operation Gratitude. We even included a photo of the class and tagged the scarves with a note from the students. Peace and safety to all who watch over us.