Havens as a Service Organization

Havens students end the school year with community service

During these last few weeks of school, Havens students have done much to serve the community around them. The mission of the Havens Community Service Crew, a Havens Parent Club organization, is to bring service opportunities to our elementary school students. It is not easy to find volunteer projects for children ages 5-10 years. This year has proved to be our best year thus far, establishing a great base for a full year of service for the coming school year. Our students have run a food drive for the Alameda County Community Foodbank, helped sustain a raised bed garden at Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency shelter, and created donations for Children’s Hospital Oakland.

The food drive for Alameda County Community Foodbank (ACCFB) was another great success in its third year running. Ms. Valerie Jew, the volunteer coordinator and computer teacher, helped 4th grade students created PowerPoint presentations about the Foodbank and its needs to show to all the classes. Mr. Hamilton’s 3rd grade class led the effort to challenge which classes can bring in the most donated food items: the downstairs 2nd and 3rd grades or the upstairs 4th and 5th grades. The energy and excitement around the food drive was palpable on campus, and the food drive was extended an extra week. Students donated over 1500 items to ACCFB!

Havens Community Service Crew and Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS) have a three year relationship now. Saturday, June 1 was the last of four gardening days at the shelter this school year. Students and BOSS residents (mostly teens) worked together to harvest vegetables and plant new seeds in the raised bed gardens. Everyone helped prepare some of the harvested turnips and greens for the cooks to use for lunch and dinner that day. Kids planted two kinds of squash, two kinds of beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and pumpkins, all for BOSS residents to use throughout the summer and fall. Havens students will certainly be back at BOSS next school year.

Last but not least, nineteen Havens students participated in an after school activity benefitting Children’s Hospital Oakland right after Memorial Day. Kids put together activity packets (coloring books and beads) for children who are bedridden and unable to make it to the hospital playroom. They also created meal tray placemats to brighten all the patients’ days. Ms. Jew taught the kids about Children’s Hospital and one of the students shared her experiences there as a patient. The hospital’s Development Department was so happy to receive the donations from Havens students and asked for more.

As the year comes to a close, we are looking forward to another year of service at Havens Elementary. The Community Service Crew is planning a calendar full of volunteer opportunities for our students. Parents can look for more information as the year commences. Also, remember the back to school book drive benefitting East Bay Agency for Children – bring a book to donate in the first few days of school. If you have questions or want to get involved, contact Christina Vo and Carole Parker at havenscrew@gmail.com