Service projects keep Carroll FCCLA busy
Comet staff report

Helping area's homeless Carroll FCCLA members participated in the recent Walk A Mile in My Shoes for Kokomo Rescue Mission's Open Arms facility. Participants included, left to right: Carra Snapp, Nicole Brafford, Lacy Pope, Kristina Sedwick, Shawnee Carter, Devin Smith, Emma Cottrell, Laura Bott, Audrey Snavley, and Heather Bott. Not pictured, but also attending, were Heather Perry and advisor Cindy Reinke. Photo provided

Carroll High School's chapter of FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) has had a busy winter season filled with community service activities.

For each month of the school year, the student officers have planned a variety of community service activities for both the chapter members and the student body to participate in.

November was set aside as paper product collection month for the Kokomo Rescue Mission. During December, $530 was collected school-wide for Kokomo's Crisis Pregnancy Center. Baby bottles were set out in many classrooms for the student body and teachers to put spare change in. The classroom that collected the most money won a prize. Charisse Smith, the new FACS teacher, won.

January's event occurred at Rossville's Milner Health Care Center where students played bingo with a few of the residents. On Feb. 9, 11 members and advisor Cindy Reinke participated in "Walk A Mile In My Shoes." Sponsors were asked for donations for the rescue mission's Open Arms facility for homeless women and children. Twelve FCCLA walkers collected $237 for walking a mile with 800 other participants.

After the FCCLA members walked for the rescue mission, a trip was made to the Crisis Pregnancy Center to hand the director the donation check and tour the facility. They also presented filled diaper bags for the center that were donated by a Carroll teacher.

The students finished the day with a great feeling of accomplishment and warmed hearts for the rewarding work they had done, said Reinke.

In December, Charisse Smith's Child Development class provided free childcare at Carroll Elementary to give parents an opportunity to get some Christmas shopping or wrapping done without the expense of hiring a babysitter. On Feb. 15, FCCLA members and Mrs. Smith's Advanced Child Development class offered another night of free child care at Carroll Elementary so parents could have a Valentine Date Night. A light supper, creative crafts and games were planned by the two groups. Twentyfive children were taken care of that night. When parents returned to pick up their child, donation boxes were setting out for the Kokomo Rescue Mission and the international Feed the Children charity. One hundred, thirty-three dollars was collected for the two organizations.

Through active membership in FCCLA, students are given the opportunity to plan and carry out a variety of community services projects.

"Developing leadership, organization and communication skills are a few of the benefits students gain from being actively involved," said Reinke. "It is FCCLA's mission to help them become better family and community leaders."