The students at DU’s Ricks Center for Gifted Children have made community service a learning priority. On April 17-18, more than 35 students participated in the Kids Who Share Fair, held in the front lobby of the center. The students shared information on 14 different community organizations, including Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, Denver Dumb Friends League and Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies.
“The goal of this fair is to raise awareness about the organizations as a part of our students’ educational learning,” says Shannon Jones, Ricks Center director of education. “Additionally, students may collect goods such as used eyeglasses, canned goods and coats, or sell small items related to their cause, to raise money for their nonprofit organizations.”
The event highlighted the importance of each student’s personal involvement in community-service projects. Students were able to participate individually, with a partner, in small groups or as a class to host a table highlighting information about the community-service project they supported.
“Community service is important to me so that we can help the world get better and help animals and people in need,” says Emily, a Ricks Center sixth-grader whose community service project involved Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. “This fair is crucial to me so I can show people that I really do love golden retrievers, and that it is important to care for every single dog in the world so that they have a home and better life.”