How did this idea come about?

In the past we had considered having community service as a graduation requirement, but quickly realized we did not have sufficient resources to oversee a full program.  Some annual events do involve a limited number of students to some volunteer opportunities, such as the Soup Kitchen and the Remembrance Walk. However, we would like to expose more students the opportunity to "give back" to their community while gaining valuable experiences.
 
Why do you think it's necessary to do a community involvement project like this in Dighton and Rehoboth?

Part of our school’s mission statement is to provide each student with the knowledge and skills to become contributing citizens in their community.  We hope this program will build a strong link between our students and the community. 
 
How do you think high school students will benefit from this?

Students will make valuable connections and build relationships amongst themselves as well as others in the community.  We hope this will foster a continued life-long commitment to community service.

Have students expressed interest in this so far?

Even though there has not been a formal Community Service Program, many students have engaged in a variety of community service events/fund raising activities either through school groups or community churches.  For the past five years, the School Council has spearheaded a Soup Kitchen in the winter. The response is overwhelming! There are often more volunteers than recipients. Clearly there is great interest in such an event.

How many peer leaders have you enlisted?

At this time our Peer Leader enrollment is approximately 50 and all will be participating in the program. It is open to any in the DRRHS community and we have over 50 volunteers outside of Peer Leaders.  

What businesses will you be working with?

We have contacted over 50 agencies that have expressed interest in working with our students and hope to expand to other interested community agencies that might want to be involved.
   
What do the business owners say about this program?

They are excited to work with our students and are even willing to provide training if necessary.
 
Who will benefit from the money raised?

This is a win-win situation.  Our students will gain experience and build relationships and a deserving population in our community will benefit from our services and interactions with our exceptional student body. If we raise funds it might be used to pay (subcontractors) for services.  For instance, (if we raise funds) during the winter months, we might hire a local subcontractor to plow snow for families in the community who struggle with snow removal due to heath or age.  It goes full circle in that our students raise the funds, a local contractor gets employed, and a family in the community receives the service.    
 
Why did you choose these specific group(s)?

Besides finding safe environments for our students to be placed, we also wanted to find the most beneficial work for building relationships. As stated before we have contacted over  50 organizations who have agreed to work with our students ranging from the local fire and police stations, library, Veterans services, nursing homes, and local hospitals.  Although we wanted to be able to provide a wide range of opportunities for our students, they are not limited to our contacts. This is just a resource that students can utilize to expand their opportunity for service.  

When will students start work?

We have more than 100 volunteers including Peer Leaders who have already begun this September. 

When will the funds be dispersed?  

Project Village is not only about raising funds. We try to find deserving families in the community (that are most needy and) who can benefit from our services most.

How long do you intend on keeping this program running?

We would hope that the program will continue and will be open ended and expand into a larger mission. 

Why did you get involved in this project?
BR: We needed a new direction and a new way to connect the school and the community.  It’s a new start and a chance to give back to the community after all it has done for us.

Where will you be working/ who will you be helping?
BR: We will be able to work and help out at over 50 different places around our community.  
SO: We want to be able to make a difference in our towns and have an impact on our community.

What do you personally get out of participating in this project?
BR: I get to help out the community and make it a better place.
SO: More experience with the community and the rewards of knowing we made a difference.

How does this experience differentiate from a normal work experience for you, when the money earned goes into your pocket? Will you work harder?
BR: For this experience, you are working for the cause, not for the money.  You should be working hard because you want to help your community.