Back 
LITTLE FALLS — There was a whole lot of raking going on Wednesday for the Little Falls Community High School’s “Day of Caring” project.
The entire student body of ninth- through 12th-graders, along with the teaching staff and about 100 volunteers, made a difference — one by one — as they helped the elderly and the disabled with yard work, gardening cleanup and window cleaning.
There were 68 teams — each consisting of 12 students and one adult — who either walked or were bused to more than 70 sites that included residential households in Little Falls, Camp Ripley and Randall and other properties, such as Columbia Park, Dewey Radke House and Linden Hill in Little Falls.
Little Falls Principal Tim Bjorge said this is the school’s first community-wide project. Bjorge wanted the students to be involved in a community project to teach them how to be good citizens, the importance of volunteering and giving back to their community. Bjorge said the idea of “Day of Caring” came from a school in Detroit Lakes.
“It’s good for students to volunteer,” said Bjorge. “It gives them a chance to see what it’s all about so they’ll become volunteers as adults and become part of the community.
“The community support for this project has been awesome. There are lots of businesses helping out.”
Businesses and community people offered their help through donations and their time by helping with the cleanup. The Healthy Collaborative of Morrison County, Horizon Health and Faith in Action in Morrison County helped sponsor the event.
Mary Kenna with Healthy Collaborative said the event is a good opportunity for students to volunteer and to be with their friends. Kenna said the students are learning first-hand about helping those in the community and seeing how rewarding it can be.
Kenna said the residents are appreciative of the work by the students and seeing that they are “good kids.”
Helen Funk of Little Falls said: “My yard hasn’t looked this good for years.”
Funk, a retired teacher at Mary of Lourdes Catholic School, said her yard has needed a good cleaning for a long time, but she cannot physically do it herself. Funk was appreciative of the students’ work. The students raked her yard, picked up sticks and bagged up the debris.
Rhonda Schmidt, the high school French and Spanish teacher, took her group of students to William Smith’s home.
“This is a good way for us to give back to our community,” said Schmidt. “We have so many people, who are taxpayers, and it’s good for them to see these kids so enthused and energized about helping out.
“The kids will realize by the end of the day that it feels good to help someone out.”
Alex Potvin, a foreign exchange student from Belgium, said the “Day of Caring” is an interesting project. She said she’s impressed the students are helping the elderly with yard work.
“We’d never do this in Belgium,” she said. “If we didn’t do it (help the elderly and disabled here) then who will?”
Junior Stephanie Gardner said the project is exciting because she likes to help people, plus she gets to spend time with friends.
“I like washing windows,” she said. “I’d rather do that than rake, but I’ll do both.
“The elderly need help. My grandma is going to be 91 and I know she needs help.”
Sophomore Dawson Herrick said the project is good for the entire community. Herrick said he feels good helping others.
Coty Melin, a sophomore, said the “Day of Caring” is a good community event and it gives “us a day out of school.”
Christine Grams, an English teacher at the high school, brought her group of freshmen to Columbia Park. Students raked the grass, gathered leaves out of the playground area and rubbed graffiti off the picnic table and slide.
“This is amazing,” Grams said of the project. “This is a great idea for our students to help people who support our schools.”
Grams encourages community service projects and said the projects benefit everyone involved. Grams said the residents are appreciative of the work and the students are reaping the rewards of doing something nice for people.
Derek McMahan, freshman, who was raking leaves out of the playground, said he’s happy to help clean up the park so it looks nice for the children. He also said by cleaning up the park will make it safer for the children.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
