Nearly 200 volunteers turned out to donate time to local organizations
By Lauren Parker, News Editor, The Times
From left to right: Samuel Trizonis, Elena Long, Jadyn Brown, Rebekah Hallenbeck and JaLeah Blanton of the CASD presented essays on community service Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr day. Photo courtesy of CASD
COATESVILLE – The Coatesville Area School District hosted a day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, along with a presentation of essays from district students and an award ceremony to recognize those who serve the community on a regular basis.
The students from elementary and middle schools were selected because of the essays they wrote about what serving the community means to each of them. Each presented their essay onstage and received awards from Superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner and director of elementary and secondary education, Jason Palaia.
Fifth-grade student from Caln Elementary wrote his essay about ways of serving the community by helping others in need and collecting trash throughout the city.
“We are here to take care of one another.” Trizonis said.
Nick Deminski and Chaya Scott presented Jared Elters with an award for volunteering over 400 hours of his time to the CYI, Bridge Academy and Upward Bound over the past year. Photo courtesy of CASD
Nick Deminski, from Pennsylvania State Representative Harry Lewis’s office (R -74) and Chaya Scott, the executive director of the Coatesville Youth Initiative were on hand to present the award certificates and plaques to the recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award on behalf of the district.
Karol Collins of the Brandywine Health Foundation, David and Joy Turner of David’s Drive 831 and Jared Elters a junior at Coatesville Area Senior High School were each recognized for their outstanding volunteerism and service in the community.
Following the presentation of awards, nearly 200 volunteers were dispersed to the following locations throughout the community:
Brandywine YMCA: volunteers helped distribute coats to those in need.
Good Works, Inc: needed help with organizing their warehouse as well as cleaning, dusting and organizing.
Coatesville Area Public Library: volunteers helped reclassify and sort books.
Coatesville Area Senior High School: the Air Force Jr ROTC organized and packed supplies collected for David’s Drive.
Coatesville Area Senior High School: giant cookie bake with an assembly line for prepping ingredients and baking cookies.
Coatesville Area Senior High School: volunteers made Valentine’s Day cards for people in need.
Coatesville Area Senior High School: a representative from Be The Match was on hand to screen people as medical matches for bone marrow, blood donations and platelets.
Coatesville Soup Kitchen: volunteers helped serve meals and assisted with clean up.
Art Partners Studio: needed help with painting and preparing classrooms for students.
Regency Park Apartments, Bridge Academy and Community Center, Holy Ghost Orthodox Church and the Coatesville Youth Initiative all needed help with cleaning and organizing their locations.
Students participated in a giant cookie bake held at the Coatesville Area Senior High School as part of their day of service.
