{"id":53630,"date":"2016-12-04T12:48:51","date_gmt":"2016-12-04T16:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=53630"},"modified":"2016-12-04T12:48:51","modified_gmt":"2016-12-04T16:48:51","slug":"ofa-key-club-students-give-back-to-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2016\/12\/04\/ofa-key-club-students-give-back-to-community\/","title":{"rendered":"OFA Key Club students give back to community"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"OFA

Pictured, from left, are Erin Thalacker, OFA senior and Key Club president and Gracie Jensen, OFA junior and Key Club vice-president. Both play basketball and commit volunteer time to assist in community projects via the Owego Kiwanis. (Provided Photos)<\/p><\/div>\n

Key Club, a service-leadership organization partnered with Kiwanis International, is one of the largest service programs for high school students. Founded in 1925 and with as many as 5,000 clubs worldwide, Key Club members perform more than 12 million service hours each year.<\/p>\n

In Owego, N.Y., the Owego Free Academy (OFA) Key Club plays an integral role in providing volunteer service to the community.  <\/p>\n

Owego Kiwanis Club President, Kathy Newell, shared, \u201cThe OFA Key Club brings enthusiasm, spirit and a fresh outlook, and students learn the act of service from our lead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newell continued, \u201cI cannot imagine a community without service-minded volunteers willing to go the extra mile for people in need. The hope is that Key Club members will someday be active Kiwanis members in Owego, or wherever they choose to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key Club members don\u2019t just do service, they also have fun. Making new friends, attending meetings and networking, as well as participating in social events are just several ways students interact with the community. OFA Key Club members are asked to perform a minimum requirement of community service hours each year of membership to receive credit and acknowledgement for their work.<\/p>\n

The Kiwanis Club of Owego meets every Thursday at noon at the Parkview, located at 145 Front St. in Owego, N.Y., where Key Club members are welcome. Newell explained that the meetings are open to all visitors as well as potential new members.<\/p>\n

OFA senior, Ethan Pryor, started Key Club as a freshman, and this year he is the Key Club secretary. Pryor commented that his favorite project is a fall cleanup where he helps local residents with various tasks. <\/p>\n

Pryor, who genuinely enjoys helping others in need, commented, \u201cHelping others is so important,\u201d and went on to explain that even washing windows is rewarding because his efforts are appreciated.<\/p>\n

OFA Key Club president and senior student, Erin Thalacker, and vice-president and junior student, Gracie Jensen, agreed that the fall cleanup project is one of their favorite activities, too, along with visiting residents at Riverview Manor. Key Club members have helped with several other projects such as highway cleanup, a Riverwalk cleanup, participation at December\u2019s \u201cLights on the River\u201d event, and serving dinners for various organizations, just to name a few.<\/p>\n

Thalacker and Jensen, who also play on the girls\u2019 basketball team, are two students who go the extra mile with their volunteer efforts. Recently, they volunteered a full Sunday to officiate and keep score at a youth basketball tournament and also coordinated a food drive at the same time. Later that same day, Jensen volunteered more time at a holiday dinner hosted by the YMCA.<\/p>\n

Thalacker, who has participated in the OFA Key Club since her sophomore year, shared, \u201cWe have about fifteen members right now, from freshman to seniors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The week of Dec. 5-9 is Key Club Week at OFA, which will feature a different-themed-day each day. <\/p>\n

Monday is \u201cCompliment Day,\u201d where students are encouraged to say hello to someone they don\u2019t know, and Tuesday is \u201cGrateful Day,\u201d where students can thank someone for a kind gesture and\/or write about it. Wednesday promotes \u201cBring a Friend to Key Club\u201d with donuts and hot chocolate, Thursday is set aside to \u201cDo a Random Act of Kindness,\u201d and concluding the week on Friday will be \u201cPurple Day.\u201d  <\/p>\n

During Key Club Week, bracelets will be sold for $1 each with the imprinted message, \u201cDare to Care,\u201d and proceeds will benefit the Tioga County Rural Ministry.<\/p>\n

Jensen summed up the Key Club philosophy well, \u201cIt\u2019s all about getting involved in the community. The more students we can pull in to help volunteer, the more events we can do, and then the bigger the impact will be.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Key Club, a service-leadership organization partnered with Kiwanis International, is one of the largest service programs for high school students. 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