Ranney School Hosts First Annual Community Service Fair

Hoping to make a difference in their local community, hundreds of Ranney Middle and Upper School students packed the schools’ auditorium April 29 to learn more about the various volunteer opportunities available to them during the school’s first annual Community Service Fair. Representatives from 34 non-profit organizations, including hospitals, children’s service agencies, environmental groups, homeless shelters and animal relief organizations were on hand to offer information and answer questions about their organization, hoping to connect directly with future volunteers.

Susan Lemme, Managing Director of Save U.S. Pets Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to needy families whose pets need lifesaving medical care, said she had so many students sign up to volunteer within the first half-hour of the program, she was overwhelmed. “There will be something for all of them to do, I assure you,” Lemme said, “I plan to put together an individualized program to accommodate the ages and abilities of all the students who are eager to help with our projects.”

Upper School Student Activities Coordinator Kathleen Caffrey, who helped organize the event along with members of the Upper School’s newly formed Community Service Board, points out that many Ranney students are already active in community service, volunteering with non-profit groups such as Habitat for Humanity, and in some cases, even forming their own charitable organizations.

“Our students recognized, however, that many families in Monmouth County are increasingly relying on outside organizations for support in this difficult economic climate,” Ms. Caffrey said, “This is putting additional strain on local community service providers who are in dire need of volunteers to help meet the increased demand.”

The students came up with the idea of a volunteer fair as a way to get more of their fellow classmates involved in this type of community building. Glancing around the crowded room Wednesday, Community Service Board member and tenth grader Charlotte Fleming said she was delighted with the response. “I think it is so great that so many students are here. For a debut project, this has been really great.” Fellow tenth grader Rose Pallone wholeheartedly agreed. “There were a lot of students not just hanging out, but really engaging in conversations with the volunteer providers about their organizations. That is what we really wanted to see.”

The students spent the last period of the day as well as their after-school hours perusing the various displays chosen for the diversity of services offered. Many of the organizations such as Clean Ocean Action and Lunch Break were already familiar to Ranney students, while others, such as Ten Thousand Villages and Amanda’s Easel were visiting Ranney for the first time. Representatives from the nearby Tinton Falls Emergency Medical Services explained their specific training requirements to interested students, while members of the Two Rivers Theater Company appealed to students with a creative bent.

Monmouth County United Way Executive Director Tim Hearne, who was on hand for the event, says it is so important for students to find what interests them and to get involved in their community. “This is the ideal way for students to meet face to face with many of the leading non-profit organizations in the county.”

To ensure maximum exposure to the breadth of volunteer opportunities and to encourage dialogue with as many representatives as possible, the board issued passports to each student to have stamped when they visited and spoke with a community service provider. In addition, the board members compiled a booklet with contact information and a detailed description of each organization at the fair. Tenth grader Melissa Kowalski spent weeks helping put together the pages for the book, even sacrificing some of her spring break to complete the project. “I would love to do it all again next year, even if it means giving up my spring break,” Melissa said, “It was so much fun.”

Ninth grader Keith Chiarello said this was the perfect project for him to become involved with “I’m results oriented, and this project is producing immediate results,” Keith said. “A lot of kids are not only talking to providers, they are signing up to volunteer. It’s very rewarding.”

Ms. Caffrey said she is not surprised by the enthusiasm of her student Community Service Board members. “When students give freely of their time and talent to others, they reap the rewards of service long after their project’s volunteer hours conclude.” With that in mind, she expects the Community Service Fair will become an annual event.
 
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