Courtesy (Wysatn C. and Maryam S.)
Filing library books, visiting the elderly, packaging hot meals. Whether we were bused to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, travelling to Sunshine Manor, or upgrading playground equipment, nearly 385 students in 45 Upper School advisories visited over 12 sites on Friday, September 4, to serve the Greater Columbus community on Service Day.
Service Day, a long-standing part of Academy, predates Ms. Bening’s own 40-year school tenure. As the main driving force behind the tradition, Bening has helped coordinate numerous successful Service Days, always rooted in giving back to the community. “[The school] insists on Community Service,” Bening said, referring to our Mission Statement. “But we also do it because it is the right thing to do.”
Students volunteered at food pantries, gardens, learning centers, community organizations, and nonprofits throughout Columbus, including the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, WARM, the Hilliard Food Pantry and Share Closet, Shepherd’s Corner, the Gahanna Garden, and LifeCare Alliance.
Some advisories participated in specialized projects, like Mr. Compton’s group, which, alongside Dr. Linder and Dr. Bezant’s advisees, packaged meals to deliver to people who have limited ability to leave their homes and who rely on LifeCare Alliance and Meals on Wheels. Dr. Jacky’s advisory visited Lettuce Work, a nonprofit that provides young adults with autism opportunities to develop job skills and gain independence through work in a greenhouse and garden. Additionally, Dr. Bundy and Ms. Heywood’s advisories worked with a Learning Center, serving children from families in the area.
This experience involved students contributing to their community while spending time outside of the familiar campus. “Packing the food felt rewarding, and it was fun too!” Gabi M. said.
The range of sites is intentional, and according to Bening, the goal is not to just have students perform a task, but to expose them to different parts of their community and experiences outside their typical environments. “In high school, you are at a point in your life where you are starting to become your own individual, so we are going to take you out and show you around,” she said.
For some, that may mean being exposed to neighborhoods and organizations they have never encountered before. Bening hopes these experiences encourage students to recognize the differences that exist within their communities and challenge assumptions they may have formed.
“You are going to see some disparity,” Bening says. “We are going to see some things that puzzle us. We are going to see some things that reinforce some stereotypes, [and] have an experience that may undo stereotypes.” The day is intended to extend beyond the hours students spend volunteering and become the beginning of a habit students can continue developing throughout their lives. “If the way we expect our community to thrive is by supporting each other, then you are going to have to practice that and make it a habit,” Bening said.
