The Serve

The TCS Hike ‘n Serve event, which was held on our rain date, Wed., Sept. 23, was a meaningful day of service and prayer for our K-12 students.

Jr. High and High School students commented that they worked hard, bonded with other students, felt good about serving and felt as if they were able to be a good testimony to others.

Savannah H., a 7^th grader who served at the Tipp City Taco Bell by scrubbing floors and picking up trash along the sidewalk outside, said, “I think we should do this again because we witnessed to all the people coming in to eat by showing Christ.”

Junior Matt D. said, “I learned when you help someone you feel good, even when you have a headache.”

Levi C. said, “It is not always easy or fun to serve, but it’s the right thing to do. If you do it with a good attitude, you will feel good in the end.”

Nick A., a junior, noted that he was able to bond with other students while serving. “I became better friends with people I don’t usually hang out with,” he said. Fellow classmate, Dalton R. agreed, stating he enjoyed “learning how to work with others and to bond with people your own age.”

Teacher Jared Mitchell commented, “I had a great time with my students at SpringMeade. Many students brought in guitars and piano music and played for the residents. One of the gals brought a ton of nail polish and they did the residents’ nails, who loved it!”

A total of 310 students served at these locations: Dreambuilder’s Clubhouse—Richard’s Chapel, Floral View Apartments, Fulton Farms, SpringMeade Nursing Home, Ginghamsburg Church-Furniture Barn, Christian Life Center, Riverside of Miami County, Miami County Children’s Services, City of Troy Parks Dept., Morris House, Family Abuse Shelter—Buckeye House, Family Connection of Miami County, St. Joseph’s Men’s Shelter, St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, Miami County Right to Life, Troy Ford, Sterling House, Caldwell House, Tipp City Taco Bell and Shell Gas Station, TCS Preschool, Troy Care and Rehab Center (formerly Harborside).

The Hike

Students in K-5^th grade hiked one of the trails at Brukner Nature Center in Troy. The students stopped at three locations along their hike to pray and worship. At the first stop, students prayed, thanking God for his creation. The second stop overlooked a meadow where 6^th graders led worship songs. The third stop was at a pond, where they prayed for Jr. High and High School students serving out in the community. The students also had a snack of trail mix and water while they listened to a presentation about hawks by a naturalist from Brukner. Sixth graders served their school by leading at Brukner or helping with the classrooms when the students returned to school.

According to Kindergarten teacher, Kim Younce, her students “loved” the hike. Here are some observations by her students: “Isabelle loved all kinds of (stops along the hike) and sang songs she knew from the radio. Julia loved singing with her 6^th grade buddy. Hailey liked seeing the pond. Athena liked the bird. Emily liked the Hike ‘n Serve because we were praising God.”

The Celebration 

At the all-school celebration after Hike ‘n Serve, students had a great time of praising God. It was an inspiring sight to see all of our students together in celebration all wearing bright orange t-shirts. Look for a link on the TCS website to view the video students saw at the celebration. The video shows pictures of students serving throughout the community and has adorable pictures of our younger students on their hike. Pictures from Hike ‘n Serve are available on SmugMug.

The following committee members were recognized for organizing this event: Hike Coordinators, Donna Farr and Heather Peters; Serve Coordinators, Paul and Dannette Shomper; Celebration Coordinator, Scott Smith; Bus Scheduling, Pam Ondera; Sponsorship Coordinator, Shelly Calvert; Publications and T-shirts Coordinator, Jenni Klint; Website Coordinators, Emily Knife and Joan Peterson.

And thank you to our office staff and maintenance staff for helping with mailings, equipment set-up, phone calls and for being so wonderfully flexible.

Thank you to our photographers, Traci Smith, Grace Jett and Rachel Dillahunt.

Sponsorships are still coming in

As of this printing, TCS is still receiving many sponsorship donations in response to the letters students sent to family and friends. Donations will be accepted until October 16. A final report of money raised from Hike ‘n Serve sponsorships will be given at the end of October. Look for that information in Parent Pages and on the TCS website. Thank you to everyone who helped by sending sponsorship letters!

THANK YOU NOTES WILL BE MAILED FROM THE SCHOOL TO EVERYONE WHO SENT IN SPONSORSHIP DONATIONS FOR HIKE ‘N SERVE. ALSO, DONORS WILL BE THANKED AND LISTED ON THE WEBSITE AT THE END OF OCTOBER. IF STUDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEND A PERSONAL THANK YOU, THEY CAN CHECK THE WEBSITE TO SEE THE LIST OF THOSE WHO DONATED.