More than 250 volunteers participated in community service while learning about civic needs. Many teachers were excited about the learning opportunity this initiative provided for their students. “If they do something today, it changes their future, and it changes other people’s future,” said T.L. Rodes music & art teacher, Melissa Kinney. “We really did it as a teaching moment and as a morale booster to encourage them that even though they are isolated at home sometimes, they have the support of all of their teachers, staff, and parents.”
Volunteers are the backbone of nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits often do not have the financial resources or manpower to hire outside help to complete everything needed for upkeep. That’s where volunteers come in. School teams that held collection drives showed initiative by calling for donations from their entire school and volunteering their time to sort and inventory items. “The value of volunteering has only risen in a post-COVID world,” said UWNWLA Community Engagement & Creative Coordinator, Harper McKnight. “To see such a strong response to give back in Bossier Parish and have school team captains themselves propose several projects is incredibly encouraging. In total, our volunteers completed over 500 service hours, which is valued at $14,726 in labor costs.”
Once all projects were completed, UWNWLA and Bossier Schools held a Wrap-Up party for the volunteers, where there was food, mini-golf, face painting, and several other fun activities. The Spirit Award recipient was announced at the party for showing the most spirit on social media by posting pictures and videos of their team’s project. The first-place winner was Kingston Elementary, Bossier Evaluation Center took second place, and third place went to Platt Elementary.
Each year, Bossier Parish Schools is eager to get involved and get hands-on. UWNWLA is proud to have partnered with Bossier Schools for another successful year of giving back to our community while teaching the importance of volunteerism to students and staff.
Participating schools and the nonprofit(s) of their choice:
| Collection Drive | Community Renewal Kids Friendship House | Eagle Pride Line |
| Collection Drive | Community Renewal Kids Friendship House | Benton Intermediate School |
| Collection Drive | Community Renewal Youth Friendship House | BPSTIL SkillsUSA |
| Collection Drive | Community Renewal Youth Friendship House | W.T. Lewis Elementary |
| Collection Drive | Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana | Benton High School Student Council |
| Collection Drive | Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana | Bellaire Elementary |
| Collection Drive | Providence House | Waller Elementary Student Council |
| Collection Drive | Renesting Project | R.V. Kerr |
| Collection Drive | Renesting Project & St. Luke’s | BPSB Finance Department |
| Collection Drive | Renzi Educational & Art Center | BESC |
| Collection Drive | Robinson’s Rescue | Elm Grove Elementary |
| Collection Drive | The Hub | Kingston Elementary |
| Collection Drive | The Hub | Central Park Elementary |
| Collection Drive | Volunteers of America | Curtis Elementary 4H Cheerleaders |
| Collection Drive | Basic Necessities | Apollo Elementary |
| Collection Drive | Goodwill Industries | Rusheon Middle School Spirit Groups & Archery Team |
| Collection Drive | Renzi Educational & Art Center | PDHS Student Council |
| Collection Drive/In-Person Project | Operation Blessing | Bossier Evaluation Center |
| Collection Drive/In-Person Project | The Salvation Army: Collection Drive & Shelter Project | Commission of Women Volunteers |
| Collection Drive/In-Person Project | United Way | T.L. Rodes Elementary |
| Collection Drive/In-Person Project | United Way | Platt Elementary School |
| Collection Drive/In-Person Project | United Way | AHS Blue Jackets |
| In-Person Project | Geaux 4 Kids | Greenacres Beta Club |
| In-Person Project | Geaux 4 Kids | Benton Middle School NJHS |
| In-Person Project | Keep Bossier Beautiful | Benton Elementary |
| In-Person Project | Keep Bossier Beautiful | Benton HS Baseball Team |
| In-Person Project | Operation Blessing | Legacy Elementary – Student Council |
| In-Person Project | Repainting Parking Lot Project – Bossier Parish Library’s Plain Dealing Branch & Dollar General | PDHS Student Council |
| In-Person Project | The Salvation Army: Thrift Store Project | Haughton Student Council |
| In-Person Project | Geaux 4 Kids: Notes of Encouragement Only | Parkway High School |
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