Summer Service Grins and Gains

 

The following column originally appeared in a number of APG of East Central Mn newspapers during July, 2025.  This includes the  Press & News, Aitken Independent, Elk River Star News,  County News Review,  MilleLacs Messenger,  Sun Current, Sun Post,  Sun Sailor, and Sun This Week.

Summer Service Grins and Gains

Check out the grin of 9-year-old Crosby, from Monticello, who raised $450 to help others via his lemonade stand. He’s contributing the money raised to help a regional non-profit that trains youngsters to build things their communities need. More about Crosby, here. More about the group he’s helping, here.

Crosby Dunning, 9, of Maple Lake, serves up a cold drink from his first-ever lemonade stand in front of his grandmother’s downtown shop, the Drawers of Davlee, during Walk & Roll Saturday. Courtesy Lauren Flaum,  Monticello Times

Or how about the faces of Milaca youngsters whose service included cleaning the yard of a local museum?

To feel better about the world, check out comments from Rippleside Elementary Students in Aitkin. Among many other things, they’ve bagged groceries to help others, as well as written to and honored local members of the military.

As one youngster explained, “I feel like I’ve been able to make a difference for a lot of people around me, in a good way.”

Then there’s wonderful work that North Branch youngsters have done. This includes, conducting traffic counts, road, ditch and window cleaning, and painting, according to a former North Branch city administrator.

According to a manager for Ecumen, a nonprofit assisted living home in North Branch, elementary students visit the facility and sing for about 40 minutes.

Several years ago, I joined Little Falls High School students on their annual day of service. Sam, then an 18-year-old senior, told me that volunteering “gives me a chance to give back for everything community members give me.”

Bunny, formerly a physical therapist, is one of the Little Falls residents that students helped with yard cleanup. Though now blind, she told me, “I’ve never gone through one of these caring days without tears in my eyes. I’m so grateful.”

These are just a few examples of how Minnesota youngsters, from elementary to high school, have helped others. Educators included this as part of what happened during the school year.

What if families did something similar this summer? How about if youngsters and families researched one or two ways you can help others?

Sarah Johnson, community service specialist with the Minnetonka district, has helped Minnetonka students use online resources to find out about volunteer opportunities.

The district’s website describes service opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students.

One form of service for youngsters who’re fans of social media would be to construct a similar website. Another great place for ideas is at www.whatkidscando.org

Probably no one who’s read this far needs to be reminded that there’s extensive research about the value of helping others. It opens up career opportunities. One can experience the joy of making a difference.

If your family decides to do this, I hope you’ll let me know so I can share in a future column.

A variety of people have been credited with noting “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Whoever the original author is – it’s true.

Joe Nathan, PhD, formerly a Minnesota public school educator and PTA president, founded and directed the Center for School Change for 30+ years. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org

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