Building relationships, building community

6/04/2010

Middle school students sometimes get a bad rap for, well, just being kids.

BAXTER - Middle school students sometimes get a bad rap for, well, just being kids.

But a dedicated group of Forestview Middle School students have spent the past school year raising funds for various community service projects and volunteering their time to help others.

The Forestview Builders Club, an affiliate of the Brainerd Kiwanis Club for adults, had about 28 members this year, mostly seventh- and eighth-grade students.

Dalen Hodge, a Forestview earth science eighth-grade teacher, serves as club adviser. Hodge said the program is designed to grow leaders. It also is a club where students who may not be involved in sports or other activities can find a place to meet other students and perform good deeds in the school and community.

"We make a difference but it's good for kids, too," said Hodge. "And there are a lot of places in our community that can benefit from interaction with youth."

This year the club raised $3,300 for the Salvation Army Food Shelf and the Forestview class that raised the most funds was treated to breakfast served by the club. They also created art out of 25 used bowling pins for the annual Good Samaritan Society-Bethany bowl-a-thon and spent a day out spring cleaning at Camp Confidence. The students conducted a Shoes for Haiti campaign and collected 500 pairs of shoes and 50 backpacks that will be sent to Haiti as part of the St. Andrew Catholic Church's annual Haiti collection drive.

Builders Club members also collected and donated 90 gifts and $150 to the women's shelter families for Christmas and raised funds through flower sales on Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. They also served a meal to seniors at the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center last month.

"Builders Club is more than just doing stuff, it's about becoming leaders in our school," Hodge explained.

Richelle Bjork, a Forestview fifth-grader who is one of the youngest members of the club, said she has incorporated many of the things she's learned through Builders Club in her everyday life.

"I always try to lend an extra hand," said Bjork. "Builders Club also helped me make friends with people I might not have noticed before."

Maya Hermerding, a Forestview eighth-grader, said her volunteer work has made her appreciate more those who find the time to also volunteer. She also has learned more about the community after volunteering at various locations, such as the senior center and Camp Confidence.

"It gives us more respect for people who help out in the community," said Hermerding. "Volunteering makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside."

"Builders Club is business and fun," added eighth-grader Danielle Lingenfelter. "It's not just work."

Eighth-grader Miriam Pritschet said she's a little sad that her involvement with Builders Club will end when the school year does but she hopes to be active with Key Club, a high school-based Kiwanis-affiliated club, when she becomes a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School South Campus next fall. So do her other eighth-grade friends and club members.

Hodge said he'll be recruiting new Builders Club members next fall at Forestview.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.

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Club Highlights