Community Service Update
As of Wednesday, July 14, 2010 11:47 AM

LOOKING FOR A FUN SUMMER OPPORTUNITY??  Partners in Design, Inc is partnering with Yad Ezra (food pantry) to create a unique opportunity for picking up some summer community service hours.  The volunteer project will entail planting a produce garden and designing and painting an exterior wall mural.  Students will also mentor with students from Lawrence Technological University.  This project will be on-going all summer.  There will be a kick-off meeting on Monday, June 21st, at 9:30 am at the Design Team Limited office located at 17255 W. Ten Mile Road, Southfield, MI  48075.  If you have any questions, please email Shari Stein at pidinc@comcast.net.

SCAMP AND BE A CHAMP!!  It’s that time of year again and the SCAMP program is in need of lots of volunteers to help with their summer programs.  SCAMP is a five week summer camp for individuals with disabilities.  Volunteers help campers to participate in activities and assist the classroom teacher.  All volunteers must be at least 14 years old.  For more information or to fill out an application, go to www.bloomfieldscamp.com.

TAKE YOUR HOURS TO MARKET!!!  The Birmingham Farmers Market is in need of volunteers every Sunday from May 2nd to October 24th.  Volunteers are needed to help with set-up and teardown, manning the Information Booth, and helping with Arts & Crafts at the Kids Zone booth.  With this opportunity, you can pick the dates you would like to work and the specific activity that you are interested in.  If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact the Birmingham Principal Shopping District at 248-530-1200 or info@enjoybirmingham.com, or stop by the Community Service Office for more information.

BIKE CAMP NEEDS YOU!!  Looking for a fun way to pick up some community service hours this summer?  Why not help Band of Angels with their Bike Camp.  Band of Angels, a national advocate for children with Down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities is looking for dedicated volunteers to assist with their annual bike camp that will be held the week of July 26, 2010 in Sterling Heights, MI.  This is a weeklong program that uses adapted equipment to help individuals with disabilities learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle.  Learning to ride a bike for these children is like getting your license for most teenagers – it’s huge!!  If furthers the child’s independence and opportunities for schooling and jobs while at the same time promoting social interaction.  If you have any questions, please contact liz@bandofangels.com.  You can also fill out a volunteer application on their website at:  www.bandofangels.com.

HELP RESTORE A PIECE OF HISTORY!!!  Help is needed to restore the last remaining Boblo Boat, the S.S. Ste. Claire.  This boat was built in 1910 by Frank E. Kirby and was used to transport passengers to and from Boblo Island until 1991.  It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992.  If you would like to help, go to www.bobloboat.com and sign up as a volunteer.  Help bring a piece of history back to Detroit and get the S.S. Ste. Claire ready for her 100th birthday celebration next summer.

HELP CHILDREN CANCER PATIENTS ONE SMILE AT A TIME!! Bottomless Toy Chest is a new
non-profit organization in our area what delivers interactive toys and games to children going through cancer treatments in local hospitals. Your help is need in areas ranging from wrapping items to help with community events. What more meaningful way to get your community service hours than helping put a smile on a child’s face. For more information, check out http://bottomlesstoychest.org or contact Whitney Coulson at Whitney@Bottomlesstoychest.org.

Philosophy of the Program:
Service to the needs of others is a personal act of caring reflecting sensitivity to the interdependency we share as human beings. It requires acquisition of skills and application of knowledge by informed, positive and productive participants. While the goal of service is to effect positive change in the lives of persons served, important by-products for the server are affirmation of self and growth of character.

Bloomfield Hills Schools believes young people bring vital resources to needs in their community an, in turn, personally benefit from the experiential learning such involvement brings. We are committed to the extended classroom of service to others because it allows students to synthesize and apply what they have learned, to realize themselves as contributors to society, and to gain experience in deciding direction for their lives.

Defining the nature of needs and taking action to meet them is an important endeavor. No educational system is fully responsible until it assists society in this vital process.

What we do for ourselves dies with us.
What we do for our community lives long aft.

PHOTO ON THIS PAGE: Courtesy of Summer in the City Volunteer Program.
A program that was established by former Bloomfield Hills students.