“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
At Macon Middle School (MMS), students demonstrate that you’re never too young to make a difference. Through a special initiative called the MMS Day of Service, students step up to support their community in meaningful ways.
Envisioned and organized by MMS science teacher, Annie Hornsby, some motivated middle school students and teachers recently took to the streets of Franklin with the simple goal of “making things a little better.” Each group took on some special projects in the community.
The day after end-of-year exams were over, buses were loaded and groups of excited students showed up at different places in the community to lend a helping hand. One group went to Franklin House, and visited with more than 20 residents. Students overcame their nervousness to visit and chat with residents. There was some coloring, reading, music, and lots of conversations. They were also able to take many of the residents on a walk outside. It was wonderful to see the different generations reaching out and connecting with each other.
Another group of students volunteered at Magnolia Mission, a local organization that supports foster families. The small team sorted donated clothing, examined each item for stains or wear, and organized the garments by gender and size, placing them in their appropriate locations. Several students commented that they enjoyed the experience and expressed interest in returning to help again.
A group of 8th graders spent the morning at Cartoogechaye Elementary School, where they connected with kindergarten and first-grade students by reading books. The younger students were then invited to draw pictures of their favorite characters from the books, with the older students lending a hand with the artwork. The middle schoolers also helped out at various learning stations, joined in games, and listened to the kindergarten students practice their graduation songs — an exciting milestone for the younger learners. The visit was a success on all fronts. Both age groups enjoyed the interaction, and the teachers noted how meaningful the day was for building mentorship and community between the schools and students.
Other groups of students opted for outside service projects. One group helped spruce up the Butterfly Garden on the Little Tennessee River Greenway, and another group worked at pulling out invasive species of plants at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve.
While the 8th graders were out doing projects in the community, a number of 7th grade classes took on projects at MMS. Teams cleared out brush, picked up trash, planted some beautiful azaleas, and helped file and inventory the library. Other students tended to the enormous pile of lost/found items and worked on projects for local veterans.
These middle schoolers are learning the value of service, leadership, and compassion — one project at a time. At the end of the day, all the reviews were so positive that the MMS Day of Service is now set to be an annual event. But it’s really much more than an event or a school activity; it’s a movement that’s inspiring students to look beyond themselves and take action where it counts.
Pictured top: DURING A special initiative called the Macon Middle School Day of Service, Macon Middle Schoolers learned the value of serving others.