Grand Rapids — As yet another example of their community-based learning model, Grand Rapids Public Museum School students recently got outside to help those who may call its streets home.
Sophomores and juniors involved in Pathways Club — formerly named Helping Others Together — planned and executed their second Spring Giveaway event to provide food, clothing and toiletries to area people in need. This was the fourth event organized by the club.
“Every time we do this event, we try to up our game,” sophomore Malachi Cruz said. “We take suggestions from the people who visit our table, try to accommodate people and provide the things they need.”
The team worked together to transport tables and coolers filled with sandwiches and bottles of water down the street from their school to the steps of LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, near Dégagé Ministries.
Sophomore Kiahir Baker explained how the group collected clothing donations, made sandwiches and bags of apples and chips, as well as drawstring bags filled with toiletries to give out to community members in need.
“We took feedback from our last event to include more flavors of sandwiches, so today we have (two options): lunch meat and peanut butter and jelly,” he said.
Spanish teacher and Pathways Club adviser Amy Jasinski said her students “have a lot of fun doing this and it makes a lot of people happy.”
Said sophomore Kameron Sumoski, “I enjoy getting outside to help people, and giving things to people who need them.”
Museum School students are no strangers to finding ways to immerse themselves in their community and give back to their neighbors. The school’s emphasis on place-based learning provides students time and space to apply science, English and social studies to projects that tackle problems of poverty and socio-economic injustice in Grand Rapids.
In addition to monetary and material donations from families and community members, the club received a $1,750 grant from the Peter R. Marsh Foundation to fund community service events.
Sophomore J’quan Overstreet explained that the group used about half of its grant to host a winter event, and half for the spring giveaway. They hosted a bake sale to raise more and give more.
“We spent about three to four months preparing for the spring giving event,” sophomore Jazzlynn Calderon said. “We plan one in the winter and in the spring, with different needs for different seasons like thicker socks and mittens for the winter and sandals for the spring.”
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