As spring finds its way around the convoluted corner of winter, a need within Walton follows closely behind. Slowly, the icy days melt away and yards find themselves in disrepair. Fortunately, the community of Walton-Verona knows how to lead well and serve one another. The Wake Up Walton Event is a symptom of the community’s ability to link arms. Through the generosity of the event, senior citizens gain not just a freshly manicured yard, but are able to see the fruit of neighbors giving back to the people that gave so much to them. One of the recipients of the yard clean up spoke on the experience. Clara Greek explained, “I really enjoyed interacting with the students who came to help me. They were respectful, helpful, and fun to be around. I loved the experience!!”
Mrs. Alford, the coordinator of Wake Up Walton wrote about the opportunity:
“Wake Up Walton-Verona is a community service opportunity for students and staff to partner with local businesses and community members to give back to the senior residents of Walton and Verona. Last year, over 250 volunteers joined together to clean landscape beds, spread mulch, and plant flowers for 44 seniors in our community. This year, we expect the number of residents needing assistance to increase, which means we will require more volunteers to ensure the success of this service project.
The Wake Up Walton-Verona planning committee works diligently to organize and promote the event, as well as to reach out to local businesses for monetary and food donations. The planning committee consists of 10 students: Daniel Hicks, Sophie Neumeister, Annie Kunkel, Madelyn Ryan, Makayla Throckmorton, Emily Johnson, Bryn Watson, Eliza Alford, Ava Evans, and Isaac Browning. I am incredibly proud of their dedication and hard work.
All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and a complimentary breakfast. Lunch will be provided by Steak n’ Shake on Mt. Zion. I encourage students to participate in this service opportunity to give back to the residents who have contributed so much to our community. We would love to see you on May 3rd!”