Compassion and service doesn’t stay six feet away.
That was the mindset of local Dodge City students Lauren Gleason and Elise Helfrich when they discovered their summer plans to attend a service-oriented retreat was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent graduate Helfrich, and Gleason, who is a senior, are just two of the many high school students across the state whose school year was affected by the virus. Education and classes moved online and events such as prom and graduation ceremonies were canceled.
During previous summer breaks, Gleason and Helfrich attended the Prayer and Action retreat and they refused to let the crisis take away their opportunity to serve others again this summer. According to the organization’s website, Prayer and Action is “a program that fosters a lifestyle of charity by combining the head, the heart and the hands. College students, high school students, and adult chaperones grow together as they scrape, paint and pray throughout southwest Kansas.”
Fear of contracting the virus may have hindered some from helping others during the pandemic, but despite the number of cases rising in Ford County, they were determined to give people a reason to smile amid the stress and sadness.
“When I heard the news Prayer and Action wasn’t happening this year, I knew we had to do something,” Gleason said. “Elise and I chose this time to serve others because we wanted to bring joy and light to the world during the pandemic.”
Acknowledging concerns and the need for safety precautions, such as wearing masks and keeping a safe distance, Gleason and Helfrich’s faith motivated them to continue to move forward with the project.
“To find projects, we reached out on Facebook to ask for recommendations of people who needed help,” Helfrich said. “Ideas came from family, friends and community members.”
From May 20-23, the duo, with the help of their friends and fellow Dodge City High School students, completed six service projects in four days. The projects ranged from painting house trim to mowing lawns, picking up trash and cleaning and pulling a lot of weeds.
“We also helped pot flowers for Hospice of the Prairie, which were then delivered to many of their patients,” Helfrich said.
Not only did the service projects benefit those volunteering, but also those who received the fruits of their labor. All the while, it was providing opportunities for the students to get to know their local community.
“One of the things I took away from this experience was that a small act of kindness can bring so much joy to so many hearts. I think the homeowners we served were so thankful. Every time we had a conversation, they always had a smile from ear-to-ear. They were happy to have a face-to-face conversation with another person rather than talking through a phone. I know I sure loved every conversation with each and every homeowner,” Gleason said.
“If anyone should have it in their heart to serve or give back to their community during this time but is afraid to do so, I would tell them it is a very rewarding and worthwhile experience,” Helfrich expressed.
Gleason added, “The reward is way more valuable than any kind of money. Serving others feels so good for the soul.”