VOLUNTEER. Juniors Jackson Taylor (in back) and Paige Snodgrass (in front) help Blue Hills kindergarteners with work. Paige Snodgrass got to hang out with the class all day and make memories with all her new friends. Paige believes this is her best Fort Serves experience yet. “I loved it so much,” Snodgrass said.

Fort Osage Student Council held the 6th annual Fort Serves on April 2. STUCO offered 12 different sights for students to serve at, Dream Factory, Baby Grace, Clothes Closest, Courtyard Work, Crafting for the Community, ECC cap and gown pictures, Englewood, Giving the Basics, Harvesters, Elementary Helper, Owl Hollow Farms, and Buckner Utility. Even though the weather presented challenges for certain locations, Junior Isabella Miller believes this year’s numbers were incredible.  

“It was very successful,” Miller said, “We filled up all the spots and there were still a lot of people waiting for openings.”

Fort Serves allows students to commit themselves to a day of service focused on bettering their community. Students who got to help in elementary schools were there from 9 am to 2 pm. Students assisted teachers and provided extra help and knowledge to the younger students. Junior Emma Snodgrass was thrilled with her experience with her elementary students.

“I just wanted to see from a different perspective in our community and get to help in a different way,” Snodgrass said. 

Service locations were excited about the extra help. WiNc Inclusion Center and the Englewood Arts District were very welcoming and went above and beyond to welcome our students and teachers. Teacher Tim Dial Scruggs has no doubt he will be volunteering again next year. 

“Our experience at the WiNc Inclusion Center and the Englewood Arts District was fantastic,” Dial Scruggs said. “They provided some snacks and we got to work with plenty of jobs to do.” 

320 students and 25 staff members participated in Fort Serves. National Art Honor Society at KC Dreamworks: 16, Baby Grace: 16, Clothes Closet at Fire Prairie Upper Elementary: 4, Fort Osage High School Courtyard Landscaping: 16, Crafting for the Community: 45, Early Childhood Center Cap & Gown Pictures: 1, Englewood Beautification / West iND Connection: 18, Giving the Basics: 29, Harvesters: 41, FOHS Life Skills Class Leadership Games at Buckner Elementary Life Skills Class: 20, Blue Hills Elementary Helpers: 30, Buckner Elementary Helpers: 17, Cler-Mont Elementary Helpers: 6, Elm Grove Elementary Helpers: 28, Indian Trail Elementary Helpers: 37.