By: Gavyn Heitman, Student Reporter, Triad High School
Triad High School held its 7th annual United Service Day on Friday. Students were excused from their regular classes and given the opportunity to go out into their community and participate in various service activities.
At the beginning of the day, students cleaned out their lockers of any unneeded items for the rest of the semester. Students also helped carry textbooks and classroom materials for any teachers who would not be using them for the rest of the year.
Students who signed up were also bused to North Lewisburg for more service efforts. One group went to the North Lewisburg library, where gardening and fresh mulch were put in. Another group of students went to the North Lewisburg Baseball Park to pick up trash around the diamonds, bike trail, and playground areas. The largest group service effort went towards restoring North Lewisburg’s Roll of Honor, honoring those who have served in the armed forces from the community.
Cardinal Community efforts weren’t just felt in North Lewisburg, though, as many students were brought to the Champaign County Senior Center to work in the food pantry as well as clean tables and chairs. A separate group of students also went to Urbana Restore to clean and paint.
For students who stayed on campus, service efforts were felt beyond the community. Large groups of rotating students gathered in the gymnasium to prepare and pack non-perishable, nutrient-dense foods for children and families in underprivileged countries. Any students wanting to put their service efforts towards animals could volunteer to make toys for local pet shelters.
The day’s efforts are designed to bring together people in the community, and United Service Day did just that. Locals from around the area were treated to a free car wash outside of the Triad Community Room, operated by students who also accepted donations. Students also walked around different parts of campus, picking up trash as well as tending to the gardens with weeding and fresh mulch.
Service efforts continued at the Elementary, where high school students, teachers, and community members donated blood to the American Red Cross. Members of Triad’s FFA also helped hold a petting zoo for students at the elementary school.
After lunch, students came out to Rick Wilkins Field for kickball and frozen treats from Kona Ice. The upperclassman beat the underclassman 20-1 in the first game, and then beat the teachers 17-0.
Triad’s 7th United Service Day was a huge success in providing needed services to our community. The day served as a way for students to wind down and give back to their community as they prepare for the home stretch before summer break.
