Kingdom Christian Academy students give back during last week of school

Christian-based school holds second annual Servant Week

Kingdom Christian Academy fourth grade students volunteer at SERVE, Inc. on Wednesday as a part of the school's second annual Servant Week. Each grade dedicated time to service project during the last week of school.
Kingdom Christian Academy fourth grade students volunteer at SERVE, Inc. on Wednesday as a part of the school's second annual Servant Week. Each grade dedicated time to service project during the last week of school.

Kingdom Christian Academy students will end their school year today with the satisfaction that comes from service.

As an initiative to incorporate more volunteerism into its routine, the Christian-based school held its second annual Servant Week, which started on Monday and ended Wednesday. Administrator Paulette Eichman said this is the first year Servant Week has replaced its school award ceremonies in order to teach the children to think of others before themselves.

Servanthood is a pillar in the KCA mission, Eichman said, in addition to integrity, love, respect and humility, and the week of service develops what KCA is about.

"The opportunity to serve others is building that (servanthood) in them," she said.

Eichman said she's seen a positive response from the children, who seem to enjoy the volunteering opportunities.

"The students get a kick out of helping other people and that's the whole idea," Eichman said. "Showing them there's a world beyond here at school and at home ... and there's a need to help other."

Fourth-grade teacher Melodie Dillon said her 18 students participated in a total of three service projects this year. They donated items to Fulton's animal shelter, planted in SERVE, Inc.'s garden and, on Wednesday, sorted food for distribution at SERVE. Her students have loved the service projects, Dillon said, and two took the place of a Valentine's Day and Easter classroom parties.

"This teaches them that life is not all about them," Dillon said. "It's about helping others."

Fourth grader Riley Branson, 9, placed sauce and milk in carts that were filled with food and distributed to those in need at SERVE on Wednesday. He said he enjoyed volunteering because it felt good to help the community.

"It doesn't feel like work because helping people is fun," Branson said. "You get to help out people and it means a lot so they can actually eat."

Looking back at her class' service projects for the year, Adrienne Bryant, another 9-year-old KCA student, said she's learned that service can be done anywhere - from an animal shelter to a garden to a food pantry.

"I've learned that some people aren't as fortunate as us and we need to help them out," she said.

On Monday, kindergarten and first graders went to Fulton Manor to sing to the residents and deliver handmade cards. Second and third-grade students donated food and served lunch to the school on Tuesday, charging $2 with proceeds going to a KCA family in need. Also on Tuesday, sixth and seventh-grade students cleaned at Harmony Hill Camp and participated in activities with the residents at Presbyterian Manor. Eighth, ninth and tenth graders volunteered at the food pantry at Union Hill Baptist Church in Holts Summit on Tuesday. On Wednesday, third-grade students cleaned toys at the KCA preschool and fifth graders planted flowers and played games with the residents at Heritage House Nursing Home in Centralia.

Eichman said the school hosts a summer program, KCA Summer Exchange, and students participate in a service activity once per week. She said anyone interested in involving students in a volunteer project can call the school at (573) 642-2117.