Connecting with the Community Through Service
Wisconsin Lutheran High School's dorm students recently came together to make a difference in the Milwaukee community through a volunteer project benefiting Meta House, a local nonprofit that supports women recovering from substance use disorders and mental health challenges while allowing them to remain with their children.
Following study hall, students worked together to prepare more than 50 healthy lunch bags filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They also added personal, encouraging notes to each bag, offering words of kindness and support to women as they continue their journeys toward recovery.
Following study hall, students worked together to prepare more than 50 healthy lunch bags filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They also added personal, encouraging notes to each bag, offering words of kindness and support to women as they continue their journeys toward recovery.
Finding Purpose Through Service
Kazuha, a 12th-grade student from Japan, reflects on the value of volunteering and the opportunities it provides for international students to connect with their local communities.
"Being able to volunteer at the dorm is such a great opportunity and a meaningful experience for me. I especially enjoy volunteering when I can help people who are struggling or going through difficult situations. Knowing that something as simple as making a lunch bag or writing an encouraging note can make someone's day a little better makes volunteering feel very meaningful to me.
As an international student, it can sometimes be difficult to get involved in the local community without my parents here. In Japan, I was more familiar with the people and places around me. At Wisco, there are many opportunities to serve others, but I am not always familiar with the local communities or know where I can help. That is why opportunities like this at the dorm are especially valuable to me.
In the future, one of my dreams is to help people in developing countries and communities facing difficult situations. I hope to help build schools and hospitals and provide food and other support to people who need it. Volunteering at Wisco is a small step toward that dream and has shown me how meaningful it can be to serve others.
I hope to continue volunteering, meet more people in my community, and find more ways to make a positive difference in the lives of others."
Making a Difference, One Act of Kindness at a Time
This volunteer project provided WLHS dormitory students with a meaningful opportunity to give back to their host community while putting servant leadership into practice. For Meta House, the lunch bags offered practical support and a reminder to the women it serves that others care about them and their success.
Just as importantly, the experience encouraged students to think about how they can continue serving others. For many students, the event inspired them to seek additional volunteer opportunities and find new ways to make a positive impact in the Milwaukee community.
At Wisco, we value opportunities like these that help students grow not only academically but also in compassion, leadership, and service to others.
