Peach Plains Students Learn About Citizenship Through Garage Sale

February 9, 2004 - On Monday, February 9, first and fourth grade students from Peach Plains Elementary presented Greater Ottawa County United Way & Volunteer Center with money that they earned through a garage sale last Friday. Students were able to connect what they learned from the garage sale to what they are learning in a unit about citizenship.

“The current Character 360 unit happens to be on citizenship and we felt that it would be good for the kids to learn about philanthropy and giving back to our community.” Says Brandon Weigel, fourth grade teacher at Peach Plains Elementary. Character 360 is a program run by parents and teachers at Peach Plains Elementary. The program helps the students become better citizens at school and in their community through character building activities.

Weigel’s fourth graders worked with Danielle Bolthouse’s first graders to make the garage sale a success. Bolthouse stated that she got the idea for the garage sale from United Way & Volunteer Center’s Student Service Learning Handbook. The Student Service Learning program is for youth to learn about philanthropy and participate in service learning activities. Bolthouse said that she felt that having a garage sale to raise funds and then donate them to charitable organization was a great way for kids to learn about citizenship.

Why United Way & Volunteer Center? “We [Weigel and Bolthouse] feel that United Way & Volunteer Center has the expertise to invest the money in worthy programs.” Says Weigel.

“We are so proud of these students and their accomplishments and can’t thank them enough for their generosity.” Says Joan Mack, Interim Executive Director, Greater Ottawa County United Way & Volunteer Center. Students claimed that they not only learned about responsibility and working with others, but they also learned that giving people a helping hand feels good. To learn more about the Student Service Learning program, call Megan Pitcher, United Way & Volunteer Center at 842-7130 or go online at www.gouwvc.org.

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