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FHS students: motivated, brilliant, energetic—and to top it off, volunteers. With school organizations like Key Club and Volunteens, students are learning how to be involved, sometimes even beyond school-based projects.
“It’s not a matter of ‘oh, I feel so good for helping people,’ but that this is what should be done, the best thing to do,” said senior Luke Van Helden, who has volunteered with Adopt-a-Highway, Community Kitchen, First Night and many other programs in the valley.
Everywhere in the valley, organizations rely on volunteers to help out. Students walk dogs at the Animal Shelter, read to children through the Friends of the Library, help out at Special Olympics, and coach Rotary basketball. The opportunities are endless.
“The greatest experience I’ve had with this volunteer work was when I was able to go to the State Special Olympics meet in Bozeman,” said senior Danielle Deisenroth, who is a certified Special Olympics coach. “It made me realize how much a lot of us take for granted, and, for me, I think I learned that as long as you put your heart into something you should be satisfied with the outcome.”
It’s spring and a perfect time to look for an opportunity to spread good feelings around to those who can’t get out in the sun themselves. That’s what Volunteens do, as do many others who give their time at the hospital or nursing homes.
“It’s exciting to see the difference you can make, the example you set,” said senior Ben Smith, who recently volunteered at the school blood drive.
The Humane Society is also searching for volunteers. At the end of May they’re having a rummage sale, and they always appreciate help.
“There’s a great need in the community for volunteers,” said Julie Wolf, board member and educational coordinator for the Humane Society, and library aide at Flathead High. “What we’re seeing in the Humane Society at least is that people would rather give you a donation than an hour of their time. We need people with some time to help.”
There are always opportunities to help those in need. There are even clubs that require it, such as classes like Global Village, JROTC and VICA — and all it takes is a little extra time out of the day.
Although students aren’t required to, volunteering is a good idea, student volunteers say.
“There’s all kinds of things you can do, like pick up garbage, you can always do stuff like that,” said Smith.
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