Gem State Adventist Academy (GSAA) students left the classroom on Service Day to help Neighborhood Housing Services with senior neighborhood cleanup. Students went in groups to seniors' homes who could no longer care for their yards and helped with yard work and odd jobs. Neighborhood Housing Services was excited about having more than 150 willing hands to assist their efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of the elderly population in the valley.
“We do this to provide our young people with opportunities to participate in serving others instead of serving self,” said Travis Culver, GSAA guidance director and Bible teacher. “Service to others is a big part of our mission at Gem State and also part of the gospel commission. We’re excited about the opportunity to interact in the community.”
Ariel Candies, a GSAA sophomore, talked to a few students in her group to get their reactions on Service Day. Hilary Prandl said, “Friends made the day fun and the feeling of doing something for the community was nice.”
Daniel Perez said, “I could have been playing video games with my friend and watching movies and stuff, but I asked myself, ‘What would Jesus do?’ and I decided that it was about time for me to give something back to the community.”
Here at Gem State, we value the positive attitudes that the students have toward work and spreading God's love in the community. For more information about GSAA, visit www.gemstate.org or call (208) 459-1627.
Gem State Adventist Academy students weed flower beds for seniors in the community. (Ariel Candies)
Katie Clay and Margie Gross do garbage cleanup. (Ariel Candies)
