Marywood Palm Valley Students Give Back

Students at the Marywood-Palm Valley School lent a hand to local non-profits this week as part of the school’s Community Service Week.

Barbara Klein, coordinator of  community service for Marywood-Palm Valley School, managed the week full of events.

“Students will actually be making items that the service organizations can use, whether that be making inspirational posters for the American Society for Suicide Prevention, decorating money jars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or decorating a senior’s facility for Valentine’s Day,” Klein said.

Head of School Vince Downey said community service is part of the school’s tradition.

“We take great pride in helping our students learn the value of giving back and contributing to those in need. We want our students to be leaders in community service,” Downey said.

The week wrapped up Friday with a Walk-A-Thon. In previous years, this event has raised approximately $20,000 each year for a non-profit community service organization in the Coachella Valley. The 2012 recipient will be SafeHouse of the Desert. SafeHouse provides emergency and long-term shelter, intervention and outreach services to runaway, homeless, exploited, and other youth in crisis.

Students helped out the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by decorating money jars for the organization’s Pennies for Patients program. They also lent a hand to the Desert Cove Boutique Assisted Living, which they decorated for Valentine’s with the Theme, “Seniors are Sweethearts.”

Students also made inspirational posters for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.