By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
One Bucyrus student is hoping that getting the younger generations involved in community service at a young age will carry over as they grow up.
Laney Mollenkopf, an upcoming senior at Bucyrus High School, has organized a community service day this Saturday. Already she has 17 kids, from kindergarten through fifth grade, signed up to help out. Mollenkopf’s goal is to have younger kids become involved in the community at a younger age and, as they get older, that sense of community service would come naturally.
The Bucyrus senior didn’t really get into community service until she started volunteering at the elementary school last year. It changed her outlook.
“I know I feel really good when I volunteer at the Elementary school,” said Mollenkopf.”I just want younger kids to appreciate what they have in this community.”
Mollenkopf’s work at the Elementary school and a DECA paper she is currently writing sparked the idea for the community service day. She had help getting contacts from Robin Showers, received donations from retired teachers Cindy and Traci Wetterau, and had lunches donated by Sudexo. She even has some of her media classmates volunteering as mentors and leaders for the day.
Now that Saturday looms near, Mollenkopf was a little worried about her first community service day outing. But after hearing of an autistic camp that started out with only six kids and now hosts over 200, she has let her worry and nerves subside a bit. She’s feeling a little more confident.
“It’s a step,” Mollenkopf said. “It’s important.”
Students will meet at Bucyrus Elementary School Saturday before heading over to the Bucyrus Public Library. Mollenkopf said they will have reading activities for the kids where they will talk about helping others. There will also be team building, games, and a recognition ceremony later in the day.
For more information on the event or to sign up, contact Mollenkopf at laneymollenkopf@gmail.com.