Tis the season of giving. Not just the physical exchange of gifts, but the gift of time. With the holiday season right around the corner, volunteer work is on the rise.
National Honor Society is a volunteer organization here at Albert Lea High School that volunteers year round, not just during the holidays. The members of NHS do various service projects in the school and in the community.
“It has opened me up to a lot more volunteering opportunities,” said NHS member, senior Liana Schallock.
The group has already completed multiple services projects this year including flood cleanup and helping out at the Historical Museum’s annual Autumn in the Village. They also having an ongoing project every weekend helping residents at Thorne Crest nursing home. Their large group project every year is the Special Olympics in the spring. Preschool students go out to the City Arena and the NHS members assist them in different games.
“It was super fun working with the kids,” Schallock said.
As far as holiday projects go, NHS President Bethany Tennis said they can be seen bell ringing and assisting in community holiday activities. Look out for the group at the Candy Cane Hunt, the Big Freeze and outdoor Rock On Ice through the Park and Recreation Program in Albert Lea.
For the people who aren’t in National Honor Society but are interested in volunteering Tennis has one piece of advice.
“If you have the opportunity to be in NHS, you should do it,” Tennis said. “Otherwise, anything you can do to help will help a person in need.”
There are lots of ways to get involved in the community during the holiday season. Community members can sign up to ring bells to get donations for the Salvation Army. Sign-ups take place on the Salvation Army website and anyone can do it through Christmas Eve, when they are put away from the season. ALHS just finished up the annual food drive and there are usually more food/clothes/toy drives around this time of the year. The opportunities to volunteer during the holidays are endless and help is always appreciated.
“I feel warmth inside because I know I helped somebody who needed it,” said Tennis.