More than 98 percent of Burlington Township High School freshman volunteered their time to service projects on Friday, April 28.
For 10 years, Burlington Township High School has been sending students to volunteer as a part of its “Freshman Integrating Resources Service Learning Together” program. Through Project F.I.R.S.T., approximately 98 percent of the high school’s freshman class served at locations throughout Burlington Township and the surrounding areas on Friday, April 28.
More than 300 students volunteered at Burlington Township Food Pantry, Endeavor Emergency Squad and 21 other locations as the culmination of Volunteer Week at the school. For the past week, the halls were lined with inspirational quotes about the importance of service, and teachers and students alike dispersed at 9 a.m. on Friday to participate in what Vice Principal Christopher Ilconich described as the “best activity” of students’ freshman year.
The goal is not just to get students to volunteer for one day, but to encourage a spirit of volunteerism that continues after Volunteer Week at the school ends. Ilconich said they want ninth graders who understand the civic responsibility of giving back. He said in years past, numerous students have gone on to continue volunteering at the agency where they volunteered during their day of service.
Keith Lex, an English teacher at Burlington Township High School and coordinator of Friday’s day of volunteering, cited the Masonic Village at Burlington Township as one location that has sparked an unexpected connection with students. He said each year they send approximately 20 students, and they come back beaming about how much they have learned from volunteering at the assisted living facility. He said some students have even returned for a second trip within the same weekend.
In the days leading up to Friday, freshman students attended an assembly explaining the locations at which they could serve, and then students signed up for the locations that appealed to them the most.
“We build up a lot of momentum, and students are very excited,” Ilconich said.
In the 10 years since they began doing a day of community service, the event has grown into a “well oiled machine with great community partners,” Lex said.
This year through grants and a donation from Nine West, the school raised approximately $1,200 to provide the resources for the day of volunteering.
Ilconich said Lex has done a tremendous job of continuing to grow the number of community partners, which enables students to serve at more locations off campus each year.
However, one of the most prominent events of the day takes place at the high school with the school’s on-campus food packing event “Rise Against Hunger.” Through Nine West’s donation, “Rise Against Hunger,” a nonprofit organization, brought enough supplies to package 20,000 meals to be distributed to countries in need.
At Friday’s food packing event in the gymnasium of Burlington Township High School’s Hopkins Building, the music blasted as students packed meals. Freshman Tyler Murdock said he chose “Rise Against Hunger” as his service activity because it felt like “the right fit.”
“I know hunger is important, so you’ve got to help others before you help yourself,” Murdock said.
Darby Perched said she was excited to participate in Friday’s event as she weighed and measured food to be packed. She said she felt inspired by the day’s event and wants to continue you helping people.
Lex said Friday was an exciting opportunity for both students and the district.
“I know how great our freshmen are, and this is our chance to show our community how great they are,” Lex said.
