Pay it Forward
GA Pay it FORWARD…a community service initiative
Click here for a description of the overall project as it was proposed
Click here for a brief video collaborative of all the projects completed in 2009-2010
These are the individual projects that each grade choose to carry out. Read their stories and view pictures of each project below.
6th Grade Project: 2009
The sixth grade class decided to Pay It Forward and express gratitude to our US military stationed overseas. They took the original $300 provided to them and grew it to $544 by selling, making and delivering Valentine candy-grams at school. They then went on several shopping trips to purchase items from a Soldier’s Wish List provided by the Yellow Ribbon Support Center. Mr. Keith Maupin came and spoke with the class and accepted the items, along with personal notes from each of the students, and shipped care packages to the troops. Many of the students brought in additional items from home as well. The sixth graders say “thanks” to all of our brave soldiers!
7th Grade Projects: 2009
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE: Mrs. Sarky’s 8th period religion class chose the Ronald McDonald House as their Pay It Forward Project. The children volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House serving ice cream for the weekly ice cream social. They also held a 7th grade party and collected items on the Ronald McDonald wish list as admission to the party. They collected a car full of wish list items. Click here to read a “Thank You” letter from the Ronald McDonald House.
TREE PLANTING AT JULIFS PARK : We planted three Red Bud trees at Juilfs park in early December. We were fortunate to get the help of Mike Smith and some of his landscapers with the Anderson Park District. They were able to get us a deal on the three six foot trees. The kids had to do all the digging, planting and mulching of the trees. I think they learned a valuable lesson of beautifying their surroundings and giving back to nature. My hope is that one day when they are older, possibly with kids of their own, they can walk by the trees and point them out to the kids telling them they planted them in 2009 when they were in the seventh grade at GA!
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL LATCHKEY PROGRAM: Our seventh grade class decided to help out another school. CISE was contacted and we found out that their after care programs could use some help. They put us in touch with St. Joe’s on Ezzard Charles Dr. We received a wish list and we were off. We used our money to buy playground equipment, games, snacks, drinks, books and tubs in which to store everything. We went to St. Joe’s on 2/26 to give them their new supplies and to play with the students in the latch-key program.
8th Grade Project: 2009
A day at the Bethany House. Click here to read all about the project as reported by The Enquirer. Click here to read a congratulatory letter sent by Chris Monzel, Cincinnati Council Member.
2010/11
6th grade to Bethany House - the sixth graders visited Bethany House Women’s Shelter and cooked, cleaned and completed extensive yard work and yard cleanup. They also made Easter Baskets for all the residents and their kids.
7th grade made bibs for Children’s Hospital–the 7th graders used their seed money to purchase materials to cut out patterns for bibs to be used for newborn babies in the Neo-Natal unit.
8th grade- the eighth grade “adopted” Michael Johnson as their community service focus. Michael is 35 years old and blind due to diabetes. He needed money to purchase computer software and materials to live more independently.
2011/12
6th grade – the sixth graders plan to work with Fisher House at the Cincinnati VA Hospital with meals for the families that stay at Fisher House while their loved one is in the VA Hospital. The kids will also make “angel bags” which are care packages with snacks, books, clothing, dvd’s and the like.
7th grade – the seventh grade visited Bethany House Women’s Shelter.
PAY IT FORWARD PROJECT A SUCCESS!
On Tuesday, December 13, Guardian Angels’ Seventh Grade conducted their “Pay It Forward” project for the 2011-2012 school year. With the help of more than a dozen parent volunteers and chaperones, the entire class headed over to the Bethany House Services (BHS) facilities located on Fairmount Ave. BHS provides help to single mothers, including those that are homeless with their children. BHS has an Emergency Shelter on Fairmount, where client moms first begin their road to getting back on their feet. This was the second year in a row this class has been to the Emergency Shelter for a day of good old fashion hard work and fun!
The students performed a variety of jobs, including general clean up inside, stripping and waxing the floors, raking leaves and general clean up outside and cleaning and minor repairs on toys and books. Connie Hay also had crews working in the kitchen, baking cookies and decorating cupcakes for the residents. A dinner was prepared in advanced by a team of moms organized by Michele Osterfeld and left for the residents that evening. Another Angel work crew made stockings for each of the residents there that day, stuffed full of gifts and treats. Eleven moms and 16 kids under the age of six enjoyed the dinner, cupcakes and stockings!
“The weather cooperated, we had a great day for the outdoor work,” remarked Lee Dill, who helped chaperone the outside work crews. Last school year’s project was postponed by an ice storm, so the Angels went earlier in the year for this project.
“It was a great experience to have with my daughter,” Mark Vogler noted, “Morgan and I had a great time
2013 Pay it Forward
On Tuesday, December 11, Guardian Angels’ Eighth Graders conducted their third and final“Pay It Forward” project! With the help of more than a dozen parent volunteers and chaperones, the entire class headed over to the Bethany House Services (BHS) facilities located on Fairmount Ave. BHS provides help to single mothers, including those that are homeless with their children. BHS has an Emergency Shelter on Fairmount, where client moms first begin their road to getting back on their feet. This marked the third year in a row this class has been to the Emergency Shelter for a day of good old fashion hard work and fun!
The students performed a variety of jobs, including general clean up inside, stripping and waxing the floors, raking leaves and general clean up outside and cleaning and minor repairs on toys and books. Connie Hay also had crews working in the kitchen, baking cookies and decorating cupcakes for the residents. A dinner was prepared in advanced by a team of moms organized by Michele Osterfeld and left for the residents for the evening meal, with the cookies for desert! Another Angel work crew made stockings for each of the residents at the shelter, stuffed full of gifts and treats. Eleven moms and 13 kids enjoyed the dinner, cupcakes and stockings!
“The weather cooperated, we had a great day for the outdoor work,” remarked Martin Bibb, who helped chaperone the outside work crews. “We love having GA over for the day,” remarked Gretchen Pott, Volunteer Coordinator at BHS. “We are truly blessed to have them visit each year!”
