NHS Students Leading with Service

Volunteering around the community has plenty of benefits for both students and the people around us. Going out of your way to help at a local fair by helping at the snack stand or stocking books at your local library are small acts that make a difference. Volunteering helps individuals branch out, meet new people, and strengthen the local community. For high school students especially, these acts boosts college applications, since many universities value volunteer experience.

Nonetheless, volunteering is more than earning service hours—it's about making a difference and can be an opportunity to grow. Through volunteering, students are given the chance to witness the community firsthand and give back. Devoting time can allow students to build strong leadership.

Junior Paridhi Jain says volunteering has helped her discover her extroverted side. "It's shown me that I enjoy helping other people and communicating," she explains. "After entering high school and meeting a lot of new people in the community, I feel like I've really grown to become a better communicator." Volunteering often requires a go-with-the-flow and flexible attitude.

There are a variety of opportunities both within and outside our school. Joining clubs is a great first step. Most clubs, such as Henna and Earth club, offer many volunteer opportunities. For example, the UHS Interact Club is participating in Project Cure, where they sort and package medical supplies once a month. For students, this is a great opportunity to get NHS hours under your belt. To find more information, check out their Instagram page at @uhs_interact_club.

If you're looking for volunteering opportunities outside of school, there are plenty of great options in the area. Animal lovers can volunteer at La Mancha or the Brandywine Valley SPCA, where help is always needed to spend time with dogs waiting to be rescued. The Kennett Area Food Cupboard offers opportunities with gardening, stocking shelves, and sorting food donations; visit kacsimpact.org to learn more. For those interested in outside work, The Brandywine Red Clay Alliance has activities related to gardening and mulching. Students above the age of sixteen or older can also volunteer at blood drives in Delaware; more information is available at the American Red Cross website. Lastly, The Kennett Library and YMCA are also excellent, family-friendly options, offering many events and flexible hours.

Volunteering isn't just about making a difference; it's an opportunity for students to learn new things about themselves and the society around them. Whether it's organizing donations at a food bank to tutoring younger peers after school, there are several chances to get involved and make the community a better place.