from the Morning Sun, Pittsburg, Kansas
Kayettes, a community service group sponsored by the Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) that focuses on school, community, nation and world service, completed nine service activities during the first semester this school year, and according to a recent study, giving back to the community is typical of Kansas teenagers and organizations. The study, titled ÒVolunteering and Civic Life in AmericaÓ and conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship, indicates that Òmore Kansas teenagers volunteer actively in their communities than in any other stateÓ and that Ònearly 41 percent of Kansas teens volunteered between 2011 and 2013, the highest rate in the country.Ó Girard Kayettes have proven that they believe in giving back to their community and school through various service projects completed during the first semester. To start the year each Kayette served as a guardian angel to a fall athlete and surprised that athlete throughout homecoming week with gifts like food and letters, an annual tradition to help promote school spirit. During homecoming week, members also volunteered to help serve food and clean tables at the annual Lions Club Pancake Feed. In September, 13 Kayettes sewed and donated superhero capes to children in ChildrenÕs Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, an activity planned as part of Childhood Diseases Awareness month. In October they made and sold Halloween-themed ghoul-o-grams, packages of candy that could be bought for delivery to students and staff anonymously. Nov. 6 the Girard Kayettes attended the Area 2 Regional Conference in Yates Center where they participated in leadership and service project workshops. Senior Trisha Elder led one of the leadership labs. In November members also participated in a Rake nÕ Run where they secretly raked several community membersÕ lawns. ~1@BODYURL[id=114jbcurl1242]@