One faculty sponsor, Debbie Veraldi, took a group of students to SHARE, a Philadelphia food bank. She was thrilled with the efforts of her student volunteers and said “We made boxes the entire time and worked very hard. It was rewarding knowing that we made a difference in the lives of others less fortunate.”

Seemingly small efforts had a big impact for those who made meals at a homeless shelter at 18th and Diamond Streets in Philadelphia. When the volunteers reflected on their tasks, they realized that the scope of the accomplishment was enormous. “Wow! We carried in [to the soup kitchen] so many boxes of food, my arms hurt. I bet this delivery will be able to feed everyone for weeks”

Successes can also be measured by those who, through the school-sponsored volunteer opportunity, continue a project at home. For two girls, the pillowcases they were sewing for ConKerr Cancer were so much fun, they worked on into the afternoon. The pillowcases were donated to CHOP, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, for children receiving chemotherapy.

As part of the four-year partnership with the Brain Tree Primary School in Kyanja, Uganda, volunteers, under the guidance of Betsy Leschinsky, made photo books chronicling “A Day in the Life of The Shipley School.” Photos of school-wide events, and pictures of themselves, were captioned by the students, laminated, and then made into books. The books will be sent to Brain Tree for the students there to enjoy and learn a little more about their sister school in the US.

Martin Luther King Day of Service is just one of many events that students, faculty, and parents participate in on an annual basis. From clearing trails at Schuylkill Valley Nature Center, to being a reading mentor for Bryn Mawr tutoring, Shipley students are connected to the greater community and the world at large.

January 2006