Community Service
At Green Park, we believe that we must love and serve others just as Jesus Christ loved and served. Join us in helping members of our own “family” as well as those who are less fortunate.
We are proud that our students have created and participated in public service activities. Students who participate in community service activities gain skills in civic service, develop character, exhibit good values, and gain a greater knowledge about the community in which we live.
Each year, during March, hundreds of Lutheran Schools observe National Lutheran Schools Week. During National Lutheran Schools Week, we celebrate our school spirit by a week of dress-up days and other special events such as assemblies, Muffins for Moms (and grandmothers) Donuts for Dads (and grandfathers), etc.
Feed My People
On Wednesday, May 4, each Faith Family participated in a contest to see who could build the best Can Castle. The castles were built with canned or boxed food items that were brought in to be donated to Feed My People. Before the goods were donated, the Faith Families had a contest to determine which could build the the best and/or most original castle.
Empty Bowls Project
Besides Lutheran Schools Week, Green Park students undertake a community service event to help the hungry. The “Empty Bowls Project” is a national effort that utilizes art education to raise awareness about the issues of hunger and food security. Students, faculty and staff at Green Park create approximately 500 food-safe ceramic soup bowls in conjunction with the school’s art curriculum. The bowls are then sold at a fundraising luncheon and dinner in November.
Residents are invited to attend the Empty Bowls luncheon, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day, or dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Both events are held at the school. At each meal, guests will select a bowl and partake of a meal and dessert sponsored by several local restaurants. The school has raised over $5,000 each year for its first two year for two St. Louis agencies serving the needy. Ashlyn Cunningham is the coordinator, but it takes many volunteers to make this a successful event.
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15-17
Check out this article from the Call Newspaper:
Pupils embark on ‘Empty Bowls Project’Green Park Lutheran hopes to generate $8,000 this year. |
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November 10, 2010 – Green Park Lutheran School pupils once again are undertaking a schoolwide community service event to help the hungry in this community.
The “Empty Bowls Project” is a national grassroots effort that utilizes art education to promote hunger awareness and establishes a financial means for food security.
“Empty Bowls” strives to raise awareness about the issues of hunger and food security and to help bring about an attitude that will not allow hunger to exist, according to a school news release.
The idea is relatively simple: Since September, all Green Park pupils, faculty and staff have created 500 food-safe ceramic soup bowls in conjunction with the school’s Park’s art curriculum. These bowls will be sold for $10 each at a fundraising luncheon and dinner today — Nov. 11 — at the school, 4248 Green Park Road.
Green Park families, friends, alumni and community residents are invited to attend the “Empty Bowls” luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
At each meal, guests will select a bowl and partake of a soup/bread/dessert meal sponsored by several local restaurants.
Guests keep the bowl to remind them that there are always “empty bowls” in the world.
All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit two local agencies to help combat hunger. Green Park raised $6,242 last year for Lift for Life Gym’s evening meal program.
Lift for Life Gym, a St. Louis-based after-school program, promotes positive and healthy lifestyle choices for low-income children and teens. The Gym also encourages healthy choices by providing nutritious evening meals three days per week to roughly 50 children and teenagers who might otherwise eat “junk food” for dinner — or not have dinner at all.
Additionally, because 85 percent of children enrolled in the St. Louis Public School District rely on free or reduced-cost meals, many of these children have weekends filled with hunger and despair.
Operation Back Pack exists to help meet the nutritional needs of children over the weekend. Back packs full of nutritious, child-friendly, easy-to-prepare foods are given to children on Friday before school dismissal.
Each back pack contains two proteins, two grains, two snacks, two fruits and/or vegetables and one dairy item. On Monday, pupils return the empty back packs and the cycle continues.
Green Park hopes to raise $8,000 this year for these two agencies. Also, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has agreed to match dollar for dollar up to $800.
For more information or to volunteer, call Green Park Lutheran School at (314) 544-4248 or Ashlyn Cunningham at (314) 849-0068.
Laclede Groves Retirement Center
8th Grade Class
In November of each year, Mr. Hesse’s 8th grade class visits Laclede Groves Retirement Center where they put on a variety show for some of the residents. The students then take time to visit with the residents. Our students always come away from the experience with great stories to share.
3rd Grade Class
Since 2001, Miss Gieseke’s third grade glass has interacted with retired citizens at the Laclede Groves Retirement Center in Webster Groves in a program called “Green Park – Laclede Friendship Connection”. Most of the “Friends” at Laclede Groves are in the independent living section and are eager to have the children as friends. The children write letters to their friend and usually visit the Center in the fall and in the spring. We extend the invitation for them to journey to Green Park for our musical.
This outreach program has touched the hearts of many. Many of the older adults have remained friends all or most of these years. Over the years, many of the adults have been very kind to send cards and letters to the children. Though we do not expect anything for them, when one child receives a note or letter, it is read to the whole class.
Praise God for intergenerational activities as there is so much we can learn from each other!
See this article from the South County Times:
Green Park Lutheran Students Take Musical on the Road
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Third and fourth graders from Green Park Lutheran School spell out “Daniel” during a presentation of their musical, “Kings, Dreams, and Schemes” for residents of Laclede Groves Retirement Center in Webster Groves. |
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04/13/2007 – At the start of National Lutheran Schools Week recently, Green Park Lutheran School third and fourth-grade classes took their musical, “Kings, Dreams, and Schemes,” on the road to the Laclede Groves Retirement Center in Webster Groves.
After performing the show for friends and family the week before, the students were excited to share it with an important part of the South St Louis County community. The musical, filled with snappy music and clever puns, retold the familiar story of the biblical prophet Daniel.
This is not the first time seniors at Laclede Groves have interacted with Green Park Students. The third graders from Mrs. Gieseke’s class regularly write to some of the residents. These seniors especially enjoyed seeing the students they know perform.
