Delmarva Christian High School students perform community service on Return Day
Every election year, Sussex County residents embark on their traditional Return Day celebration in which election results are announced and candidates bury the hatchet. However, at Delmarva Christian High School, this tradition has been tweaked and renamed Return to the Community Day. The day is set aside for students and staff to participate in a school-wide day of service. Students and staff seek projects that range from helping an elderly neighbor to participating in a large-scale ministry effort.
"This year, the students helped over 10 schools, 12 churches, several day-care centers, various ministries and businesses, not to mention countless neighbors and friends," said school nurse and Return to the Community Day facilitator Kristin Bennett. "It is so heartwarming to hear how students, in blessing their community, felt blessed in return."
Sophomores Melanie Williams, Hannah Czapp, Hannah Slacum, Maddie Weber and Scarlett Wyrick helped at the soup kitchen at Grace United Methodist Church. Williams said, "Everyone at the church was so thankful that we were there to help out because some of the usual helpers were either sick or on vacation. Helping out at the soup kitchen impacted all of us because we got to give back to the community as well as gain social skills. We are all grateful for this opportunity and so glad we were able to help out."
For sophomore Colin Anderson, who helped with some yard work for one of his neighbors who has had her knee replaced recently and is also mourning the loss a loved one, the day was eye-opening. "I realized that community service can be performed anywhere and can be close by. It was so nice to bring someone joy by serving them," said Anderson.
Sophomores Jordyn DiFava and Morgan Waide shopped for and packed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. DiFava said, "It definitely was a great reminder to be thankful for all that we have and for the privilege of living in the greatest country in the world where our blessings are so great."
Although the students were only required to satisfy four hours of community service, many dedicated their entire day while others continued serving the following day, which happened to be Veterans Day. Sophomore Katie Hill spent all of Thursday serving at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital on the surgical unit, while her classmate Brady Smith baked chocolate chip cookies Thursday and delivered his goodies to veterans at the Rehoboth VFW Friday.
"The students mopped, scrubbed, cleaned and vacuumed. They baked, cooked, weeded and raked. They patched, painted, and moved items to and from storage," said Bennett. "But, most importantly, they were the hands of feet of Christ. They loved on children, the infirm, the elderly or anyone who just needed a little extra help. It is unclear who benefitted more, the community or the students."
Some of the businesses and ministries that students served included Backpack Ministries, Bay To Beach Builders, Bishopville Md. Fire Department, several CHEER centers, the House of Mercy, J.L. Mechanical, La Red Health Center, Marvel Carriage Museum, Millsboro Fire Company, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Rehoboth Beach VFW, Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child, Sussex Pines Golf Club, Village Improvement Association and World Gym. In addition, a number of individuals and various churches, consignment shops, food banks, schools, and soup kitchens throughout the area were served.
Committed to excellence, Delmarva Christian Schools offers nondenominational, Christ-centered educational opportunities to students from preschool through eighth grade in Milton and from ninth through 12th grade in Georgetown. The mission of Delmarva Christian Schools is to proclaim the gospel by preparing students spiritually, academically and physically to know and do God's will in their lives. For more information, call 302-856-4040 or go to www.delmarvachristian.com.
