Children had lots to do at Oakland Christian School’s 2008 Servathon.
At the school’s Independence Township location, Clarkston Community Church, students, staff, and parent volunteers collected toys, books, clothes, and soccer balls, cleaned, and packed them for donation.
‘The kids get a kick out of sharing their soccer balls with communities that don’t have them,? said Tara McFarland, Servathon chairperson.
More than 150 balls will be donated to World Vision for international distribution to places such as Afghanistan and China.
Other items will be donated to Grace Center of Oakland County, veterans and service members groups, and local retirement centers, McFarland said.
Children made placemats, bookmarks, harvest tins, and other crafts. The bookmarks are intended to veterans and those serving overseas, she said.
‘They get a lot of book donations, so we wanted to give them fun little bookmarks to go with them,? she said.
Handmade chemo crowns will be donated to Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s Pediatric Hematology division, for children being treated for cancer.
‘When kids have chemotherapy, they often lose their hair. They have a difficult time regulating their temperature. They’re self conscious,? said parent volunteer Linda Ludek-Brouns.
‘This is a nice way to help them when they get cold. It’s not a full head covering, which could be too warm. It’s something nice and comfy.?
The fundraiser, also at the school’s Auburn Hills location, benefits City Missions in Detroit, as well.
‘We want to teach kids to have a servant’s heart, to serve other people in the community with needs greater than their own,? McFarland said.
For more information, check www.oaklandchristian.com.