Volunteer+Work

** Organizations need volunteers ** By Rachel Opinions Editor

Volunteers are needed to help our community improve and become a better place for everyone. Of course volunteer work looks good on job and college applications, but doing it out of the good of the heart is 1,000 times more rewarding. If any students enjoy working with animals, such as dogs or cats, Animal Protectors in New Kensington needs student volunteers. Dogs need washed, and their area needs cleaned. Volunteers can also walk dogs. Senior Alina Phillips is a volunteer at the shelter. Phillips walks the dogs most Sunday mornings. Phillips stated, “It’s a good fit for me because I like working with animals.” Other volunteers include Seniors Natalie Gearhart and Chelsea Smith. After these seniors graduate, the shelter will need new volunteers from Burrell High School to continue rescuing cats and dogs. Any students interested can call 724-339-7388 for more information or go to www.animalprotectors.net. If any students are interested in helping elderly people and putting smiles on people’s faces during the Holiday break or any school days off, the Meals on Wheels program is an excellent way to achieve this goal. __Meals on Wheels__ is a program that helps elderly people receive food as part of a meal program. Senior citizens who receive these meals cannot cook their own meals. __Meals on Wheels__ is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting around 9:45 in the morning at Puckety Church’s Faith Hall (the building behind the church by BHS. Volunteers can either work in the kitchen preparing the meals or accompany drivers to deliver the meals and interact with the people receiving the meal. Sophomore Allison Landowski volunteered along with seniors Lauren Ockree and Adrienne Bracken, Junior Will Foust, and Sophomores Vikki Berggren and Rachel Wilson. Landowski recommends this program to other students because they would be able to help the citizens of their community and neighboring community and put a smile on the faces of the elderly. Some of the elderly just want to see people and talk because a lot of them do not go outside often. If anyone is interested call 724-334-4404 a day ahead of time to volunteer and to learn more information. Sophomore Victoria Berggren volunteers during the summer at the United Presbyterian Church. She served breakfast called United Mornings every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Berggren became involved because she took it as a great opportunity to serve other people who needed a meal at no cost to you or them. “The thing I enjoy most about serving these people who need help is getting to know them and making conversation with them. You eventually get to know them really well, and you sort of form a friendship,” Berggren says. If students would rather help hungry people after school hours, the United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington needs volunteers for their dinner program called Friendship Dinners. These free dinners welcome anyone who wants a free meal. Friendship Dinner takes place on January 13 from 5:00-6:00 at the church; volunteers make the dinner, serve the food, wash dishes, and interact with people who sometimes just want someone to talk to. Although this program is in New Kensington, they are still a neighboring community and to make our area better for everyone we have to help. Guests who attend Friendship Dinners and United Mornings range from all ages. “It is important for students to volunteer because it helps build character and focus on help people in need. Many students use volunteer work for college applications but it is important to volunteer for the right reasons, such as sacrificing ones time for the greater good of others,” Berggren explains. All students are welcomed no matter what religion. Call 724-339-6618 a day ahead of time to volunteer. For students who like to volunteer and enjoy helping people or animals, volunteering for Animal Protectors, Friendship Dinners, and Meals on Wheels are excellent forms of volunteer service.