Racking up 1,010 volunteer hours in one day

St. Johns Country Day Student Body

In September 2015, the entire St. Johns Country Day Upper School student body spent a day volunteering at several nonprofit organizations in the greater Jacksonville area, tallying 1,010 volunteer hours in one day.

The students volunteered their time, skill, labor and commitment to make things better for those in need at Feeding Northeast Florida, I.M. Sulzbacher Center, Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs, The Clothes Closet and Food Pantry, Lighthouse Learning Center, P.E.T. (Personal Energy Transport) Project, Institute of Worship Studies, Habitat for Humanity of Clay County, Quigley House, SAFE Animal Shelter, Sanctuary on 8th Street, Clay County Dental Clinic, Westminster Woods, Ronald McDonald House and Clay Humane Society.

Some of the activities the students participated in were packing food for the homeless; tying purple ribbons for domestic violence awareness; folding hundreds of flyers, cleaning outdoor kennels and cuddling homeless kittens; sorting and folding clothing; designing and painting murals; painting park benches; removing trash, moving books and donating 35 bags of pet food.

“All of the students did a great job,” said SJCC Upper School Service Coordinator Heather Velasco of Lakeshore. “They were grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community and to help the less fortunate.”