Students with Project Alpha Club at Clarkston Elementary School threw a Halloween party for first-grade students at the Academy of Arts and Technology in Pontiac, and celebrated Christmas with academy second graders.
For Pontiac third graders, the Optimist Club youth group hosted a Valentine’s Day party, with frosted treats, cards, and crafts.
‘It gives kids a sense of what they have,? said Michele Bondy, Clarkston Area Optimist Club. ‘They see how others have less, and gives them a chance to give back.?
The club started last year with 26 students. This year, it has 47.
‘The kids had fun last year,? Bondy said.
Projects also include fund raising and food drives for Meals on Wheels, local senior centers, and food pantries. She and her daughter Hailey Bondy, fifth grader, came up with the outreach project in Pontiac.
‘My cousin teaches at the school ? I asked him what he was doing for Valentine’s Day,? Hailey said. ‘He said they were watching a movie. I talked to my mom and we came up with this idea.?
‘We want to help the community,? said classmate Candace Kitchen. ‘I feel there are a lot of places, schools that need help.?
‘It’s important to help people,? Hailey said. ‘During Christmas, we made ornaments.?
‘For people at Sunrise senior center,? Kitchen continued.
‘My grandma goes there,? she said. ‘We need to appreciate what we have. A lot of other students don’t have what we have. We have Wii games but we might not appreciate them, while they might have one thing and appreciate it more.?
The club is planning a peanut-butter-and-jelly food drive in April for Lighthouse North, Michele said.
The Clarkston Area Optimist Club meets Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m., at United Methodist Church, 6600 Waldon Road.