Nearly 120 Kiski Area students spruce up communities on Day of Caring

More than 100 Key Club students from Kiski Area High School fanned out across communities in the district Friday to volunteer on National Youth Day of Caring.

Kiski Area Key Club advisers Terra Shreffler and Nicole Wadsworth organized the annual event.

This year, about 117 students provided helping hands at 22 locations throughout the Kiski Valley.

“This event is one that our community, townships and boroughs look forward to every year. The volunteers allow each organization to save money on some startup costs for the summer season,” Shreffler said.

Kiski Area senior Megan Hastings assisted with the planting of six serviceberry trees near the playground area in Gilpin-Leechburg Park.

“I’m outdoorsy. I like to work outside. I like the fact that I help the community, and, by planting these trees, it leaves a legacy,” Hastings said.

Katrina Orange, also a senior, said she selects Gilpin-Leechburg park annually for the location of her volunteer service.

“It’s nice here, and I feel like I’ve made a difference here,” Orange said, noting last year she volunteered painting picnic tables and helping to clean up the baseball field.

From mulching to prepping baseball fields, to organizing items in museums or cleaning up parks, the day served as a reminder that caring is a simple act that reaps big results.

Allegheny Township Supervisor James Morabito expressed thanks to all the student volunteers.

“I would like to personally congratulate and thank everyone for their hard work and dedication for the cleanup of our parks and recreation areas. This continues to show how motivated and determined these young individuals are,” Morabito said.

Key Club is an international organization for high school students providing opportunities to develop leadership skills and volunteer locally.

Members are required to complete 20 at-school club hours and 30 out-of-club service hours to remain an active member.

Other places visited

The areas visited by students included the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift, Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township, Kunkle Park in Washington Township, the Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society, Kiski Valley YMCA, Gilpin-Leechburg Park in Gilpin, the Leechburg Recycling Center, the Hyde Park playground, the East Vandergrift Borough Building and the Vandergrift Pool.

“This event provides manpower to our community each spring, ” Shreffler said.

Ryan Ridenour, a junior from Washington Township, was busy operating a four-wheeler transporting loads of mulch to his co-volunteers Friday at Kunkle Park.

“I just like to help the park out,” Ridenour said.

Kunkle Park volunteers raked, weeded, mulched flower beds and cleaned swings and playground equipment.

Students painted, mulched and spruced up two large raised wooden flower beds at the entrance of Valley Points Family YMCA’s Kiski Valley Branch in Allegheny Township.

“I joined Key Club to help the community,” first-time participant and freshman Camryn Kunz said.