Community Service
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever." 1 Peter 4:10-12
We want to use our gifts to serve and AACS students are given many opportunities to do so. We are all servant leaders for Christ, both within our school community and beyond.
AACS students learn in our Christian lower school that it is never too early to start making a difference in the community and the world and strive to make it a better place. Our lower school students prepare and deliver sandwiches, gather Christmas gifts, and collect soup, as well as other activities. Students in our Christian middle school have more opportunities for community service including collecting coats and Christmas presents, along with collecting school supplies, Thanksgiving meal ingredients, gently used shoes, and more. Our Christian upper school students take part in daily long service days as well as tournaments, food drives, annual walks, and more.
Our private Christian school helps guide our students to give back to the community and strives to get the whole family involved. Our school-wide community service efforts benefit community organizations including the local Lighthouse Shelter, Crofton Caring Connection soup kitchen, American Red Cross, Bello Machre, Lutheran Mission Society, Ridgeway Elementary, Annapolis SPCA, and a variety of other foundations and organizations. Our staff and students believe that even the smallest act of kindness can provide great comfort and help to someone in need.
Here are some of our recent community service projects.
LOWER SCHOOLS
Lighthouse Shelter - Our Lower School students prepare and deliver handmade sandwiches to the local Lighthouse Shelter for the homeless.
Operation Christmas Child - In February of each year Lower School students gather over 150 shoeboxes filled with gifts to send to needy children all over the world. Last year our students were blessed with the chance to be a part of the "send off" celebration at BWI airport.
Souper Bowl - Lower School students continue their tradition of the "Souper Bowl" and collect cans of soup for the Crofton Caring Connection soup kitchen.
Some of the other groups we have worked with are the Haitian Hurricane Relief, the Severna Park Pregnancy Clinic, and various missionaries throughout the world.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Coats for the Homeless - In December the Middle School students collected coats and needed supplies for over 25 homeless people living in Washington, D.C.
Walk the Walk Foundation's Christmas for Children - Christmas presents were bought and collected for over needy children in Anne Arundel County.
Bangladesh - Middle School students collected school supplies for over 200 children in Bangladesh.
American Red Cross Blood Drive - The AACS 7th grade students sponsor an annual American Red Cross blood drive each year. Each year the donations are able to change the lives of more than 120 people.
Bello Machre - Every year AACS Middle School students volunteer their time in support of Bello Machre. Our students serve more than 90 people working at more than 18 homes for developmentally disabled individuals served by the Bello Machre organization. Students perform spring yard clean-up and plantings for many of the homes each Spring. AACS is the largest volunteer group serving the organization.
Operation Cheer - This is an on-going effort of making encouraging hand-made cards and treats for residents at Sunrise Assisted Living. Cards and made and delivered by our Community PEACE groups.
Thanksgiving Baskets - Our students donate all the ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal for needy families.
Soles for Souls - Gently used shoes are collected and given to this organization to be resolved and delivered to those in need.
UPPER SCHOOL
Service Day - In September of each year, our entire AACS Upper School student body spends a day doing service in the local community. This is our annual Upper School Service Day. Some of the organizations that we have assisted are: the Lutheran Mission Society, Ridgeway Elementary, Annapolis SPCA, Way Homes, Hope for All, Samaritan Women, Heritage Christian Church, the Annapolis Crisis Pregnancy Center, Sarah's House, Sunrise Assisted Living, Harmony House, and more. The students do many different things to help the local community, including; raking leaves, helping build a playground for local children, sorting clothing and canned goods for food/clothing drives, repaired churches, visited the elderly, and helped in special education classes.
Pink Out Basketball Tournament - In February of each year our Upper School students hold the annual Pink Out basketball tournament to raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer. Money raised is donated to the JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute at Anne Arundel Medical Center in support of finding a cure.
Foodlink - In December our Upper School students hold an annual food drive for Foodlink food bank in Annapolis. The students collected over 2,500 items this past December to be distributed to local families and individuals in need.
Walk the Walk Foundation - Our Upper School students partner with Walk the Walk Foundation and collect Christmas gifts for over 100 local children each year. The Upper School serves as an Anne Arundel County distribution site for the event and the students host a coat drive and provide snacks and games for the children when the families came to collect their Christmas gifts.
Sunrise Assisted Living - Our AACS Upper School choirs have an annual tradition of performing for the residents of Sunrise Assisted Living.