The 2023 National Day of Service provides an opportunity to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and to improve our local communities. To that end, PMSC AmeriCorps member, Hannah Taylor, knew she could bring out the very best of the learners and families of her host site, North Star Elementary School, Boswell, PA. Mid-way through her 3rd term of service at North Star, Hannah has been “getting things done” in a big way for her community all along, but this year Hannah engaged hundreds of learners and families in a whole new way to, “pay it forward for our first responders (our local Boswell Borough Police, Boswell Fire Department, and Somerset PA State Police Officers).” As MLK uttered his famous words, “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve,” perhaps he had young students from small communities across America in mind.
MLK National Day of Service and Police Officer Appreciation Day are both in January each year, so Hannah knew that 2023 was an opportunity to engage learners as these special days intersected. Students created “hand-written cards” to give to the first responders as well as brought in hundreds of essential items such as, “snacks, water, and cleaning supplies” for the firefighters and police officers.
Boswell Borough Police Department Chief Ray Wilhelm III expressed his sincere gratitude for the items, especially the water, because, “sometimes we are dealing with incidents that we don’t get to leave, and the stuff that we have in our cars are the only things that we actually have with us.” Hannah expressed that students learned that “even a small act of service can make a positive difference and instill hope and joy within their community.” Students acted in a simple but profound way to directly impact those who are risking their lives to help the community and local families at the most challenging times.
Hannah taught a special lesson to the students as they prepared for the supply drive and the children learned of MLK’s idea: “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Then, she empowered her learners to put the concept into action!
North Star’s learners and PMSC’s Hannah Taylor most definitely brought out the best of America through their act of kindness. Inspiring young people to “improve their communities” and serve others with humility is just part of what makes Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps AmeriCorps members such a vital and valuable part of their host sites, communities, PA, and America. Thank you, Hannah, for demonstrating what it means to get things done for this great nation.
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