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MHS Students Give
Back to Community |
By Elizabeth Hiss
Contributor
7/8/10
Milton High School students are taking advantage of the many volunteer opportunities the town has to offer. Over the course of their four high school years, the students must complete 140 hours of community service in order to graduate. Most students decide to chip away at their hours during their summer vacations. Milton provides a vast array of community-service opportunities for students from which to choose: the Milton Food Pantry, Milton Animal Shelter, Milton Hospital, and all of the programs run by the schools.Among the multitudes of volunteer opportunities, there is something to satisfy everyone’s interests.
Linda Kippenberger from the Milton Animal Shelter says the shelter relies completely on volunteers. They help run the shelter by walking the dogs, playing with the cats, and cleaning the cages, bedding and floors. Volunteers can come for one-hour shifts anytime from 1 to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
“The volunteers have the ability to make a big difference in the lives of these animals,” said Kippenberger. “Simply coming by to play and socialize with the dogs or cats can help those pets find loving homes. It’s extremely valuable to both the animals and the volunteers.” To volunteer, call (617) 698-0455 or walk down to 181 Governor Stoughton Lane.
Ian Kelley, who just completed his sophomore year, will volunteer at the shelter this summer in order to fulfill the remainder of his 140 hours.
“I chose to help out at the animal shelter because I like animals and it was a good way to spend my required hours,” said Kelley, who added that he will go to the shelter every week this summer.
Milton Hospital, at 199 Reedsdale Road, has a myriad of areas in which volunteers are involved, from patient wheelchair transport to the information desk. The hospital offers a six-week volunteer program during the summer starting after July 4, which includes 35 to 40 junior volunteers. Prior to beginning the program, all volunteers must attend a two-day informational and safety training session.
Bernice Kohn, director of volunteers, said, “We receive many volunteers that we cannot accommodate, so there is a large waiting list every year. I suggest those who are interested should register by April or May for next summer’s program.” Contact the volunteer office at (617) 313-1558 to learn more.
The Milton Community Food Pantry relies on volunteers to carry out their distribution of food on Saturdays, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Parkway United Methodist Church, 158 Blue Hills Parkway. The pantry will take the first nine volunteers who show up. Volunteers can assist in various tasks including: stocking shelves, checking expiration dates on donated goods, assisting with shopping, and carrying out the food to the clients’ cars. Call the pantry for any more information at (617) 696-0221.
David Corbett, who graduated from Milton High this year, has been volunteering at the food pantry for the past three years, and will be doing so again this summer. He says he began volunteering at the program when he was a sophomore because it was convenient to be able to volunteer somewhere so close to home.
Corbett said after he started, he kept on coming back “because it felt really good to help the people in Milton.” He has been at the pantry almost every Saturday, even after he completed his mandatory 140 hours.
Milton Summer Enrichment is a day camp run by the public schools for students entering kindergarten through high school. Beginning June 28 and ending July 30, the program offers 62 courses from sewing to modern dance, as well as academic and high school credit courses. Teachers from the Milton public schools teach the majority of the courses with the aid of volunteers.
Milton High student Hannah Huban took advantage of the opportunity to complete her hours by volunteering at MSE for the second time this summer.
“I will be helping out the teachers at the program along with many other MHS students, mostly sophomores, with some rising freshmen,” she said.
Huban said she enjoyed volunteering there last summer when it was held at the high school, and looks forward to this year’s program at Pierce. Her volunteering at MSE will fulfill the remainder of her required 140 hours, and she will have completed them as she enters her sophomore year.
For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit www.edline.net/pages/Milton_High_School and click on “Community Service Opportunities.” |
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