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Glen Ellyn, IL —
When about 80 residents at the DuPage Convalescence Center gather to play Bingo, a lot of help is needed.
"We only schedule Bingo when a group can help," said Linda Gray, the center’s recreation supervisor. "We can’t do it without volunteers."
So when a big yellow bus showed up on Jan. 16 carrying a group of Glen Crest Middle School students, the residents got excited.
The bus brought 11 young volunteers from the middle school’s Builders Club to the home at 400 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton to play Bingo with residents. Students took a seat next to the adults, helped them move their playing pieces onto their boards and shouted "Bingo" if their partner won.
"These are lucky cards, I can feel it," said Mary Yunek, who lives at the center. "And we have such pretty girls playing with us."
She was referring to her helpers for the day, 12-year-olds Sarah Marsden and Alex Koon.
This is Sarah and Alex's second year in the club — a school organization that was started last year by Glen Crest teacher Craig Hofmann to allow students to experience the joy of doing service for others without a physical reward.
Since its launch, the group has participated in food-packing activities at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora, helped at Humanitarian Service Project in Carol Stream, visited Marklund Children’s Home to entertain children, volunteered for service projects at the DuPage Forest Preserve, participated at Operation Support Our Troops and at DuPage PADS, which helps the homeless, among several other activities.
Students in the club meet two or three times per month and have meetings after school to plan activities.
"The main ways these kids did service (before the Builders Club,) was by fundraising or doing food drives, which is great, but I want them to be able to share their time and talent," said Hofmann, who teaches social studies and coaches basketball at the school.
Since its start, it wasn’t difficult finding students who were willing to volunteer for the club. Hofmann said nearly 70 students came to the first meeting last year to hear more about the group. Hofmann said he only knows of a couple of middle school level Builders Clubs in the area.
“My goal is that they experience the joy of service, and that they would continue to volunteer their time and talents in high school and throughout their lives,” Hofmann said.
When about 80 residents at the DuPage Convalescence Center gather to play Bingo, a lot of help is needed.
"We only schedule Bingo when a group can help," said Linda Gray, the center’s recreation supervisor. "We can’t do it without volunteers."
So when a big yellow bus showed up on Jan. 16 carrying a group of Glen Crest Middle School students, the residents got excited.
The bus brought 11 young volunteers from the middle school’s Builders Club to the home at 400 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton to play Bingo with residents. Students took a seat next to the adults, helped them move their playing pieces onto their boards and shouted "Bingo" if their partner won.
"These are lucky cards, I can feel it," said Mary Yunek, who lives at the center. "And we have such pretty girls playing with us."
She was referring to her helpers for the day, 12-year-olds Sarah Marsden and Alex Koon.
This is Sarah and Alex's second year in the club — a school organization that was started last year by Glen Crest teacher Craig Hofmann to allow students to experience the joy of doing service for others without a physical reward.
Since its launch, the group has participated in food-packing activities at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora, helped at Humanitarian Service Project in Carol Stream, visited Marklund Children’s Home to entertain children, volunteered for service projects at the DuPage Forest Preserve, participated at Operation Support Our Troops and at DuPage PADS, which helps the homeless, among several other activities.
Students in the club meet two or three times per month and have meetings after school to plan activities.
"The main ways these kids did service (before the Builders Club,) was by fundraising or doing food drives, which is great, but I want them to be able to share their time and talent," said Hofmann, who teaches social studies and coaches basketball at the school.
Since its start, it wasn’t difficult finding students who were willing to volunteer for the club. Hofmann said nearly 70 students came to the first meeting last year to hear more about the group. Hofmann said he only knows of a couple of middle school level Builders Clubs in the area.
“My goal is that they experience the joy of service, and that they would continue to volunteer their time and talents in high school and throughout their lives,” Hofmann said.
The club now has about 100 students who volunteer for various activities throughout the year.
"We don't reward them. They do it because they have fun," Hofmann said. "I think they do it partially because they get to spend time with their friends, but they all have really good hearts."
The club includes students from sixth, seventh and eighth grades, and everyone who volunteers is kept busy. This month alone, there are three service events. Last Saturday club members went to Marklund Children's Home to play games. On Monday, the group had its regular meeting, and this Saturday students are going to the SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education) office in Glen Ellyn to participate in recycling activities.
Hofmann said he hopes students find joy in doing service and continue giving back later in their lives.
“The best is when they can build relationships,” Hofmann said. “They get a lot back in return and hopefully they continue to do this in the future.”
The idea of getting enjoyment from giving back appears to be sticking with some of the students. Many in the group said they enjoy helping others.
Alex Koon, 12, said her favorite activity was going to Feed My Starving Children in Aurora where they packed food to send overseas.
"It's fun to help others,” she said. “You meet a lot of people.”
Twelve-year-old Sarah Marsden said she agrees.
"It's nice when people recognize you, like when we went to (the Meadows of Glen Ellyn)," she said of visiting the assisted living retirement community.
During their visit last week to the convalescent home, the group’s energy helped them make friends easily with residents such as Yunek, who said children make her laugh and make her happy.
Gray, the recreation supervisor, said residents mark Bingo days on their calendar and love when children come to help and visit.
"The (students) bring a smile to (the residents) face," she said. "And they also really love bingo."
