This week, many students will have finished their final exams and officially welcome summer. While some will embark on summer travels, others will be staying close to home over the extended break: whether that means enjoying a staycation, working a summer job or preparing for college applications. Summer gives us time for freedom and opportunities to explore new hobbies. Without the pressure of constant deadlines and school work, summer is also a great time to volunteer in our community.
For those who are interested in environmental activism, the Climate Community Center, based in the Bay Area, offers opportunities for youth to participate in environmental protection efforts. Volunteers work to create educational environmental articles, videos and documentaries. The center is currently accepting applications for their Youth Council Team.
Students who are more interested in working with local food banks and taking action against poverty can volunteer with the San Mateo Samaritan House. Serving more than 14,000 clients throughout San Mateo County, volunteers help by organizing food items, sorting clothing, offering help with translation, and working at the health clinics. With more than eight locations in San Mateo County, there are many opportunities available for students; the Samaritan House even invites families to join in service efforts.
Another great opportunity is the Daly City Partnership. In addition to food distributions on Mondays, the DCP center provides food deliveries to homebound seniors and hosts closet donations for the community. Volunteers can help with supporting seniors, distributing food, delivering groceries and working with fundraising drives. This is a great way to help enrich lives in our community.
Nature lovers looking to spend more time in the outdoors might consider volunteering with a local habitat restoration team. The California State Parks Foundation holds volunteer workdays on the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon at all Half Moon Bay state beaches. The restoration efforts include weeding invasive plants, sheet mulching and planting native species. In addition, every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, Francis Beach in Half Moon Bay hosts native plant restoration projects. Volunteers are taught how to propagate different native plants and weed out invasive plants. Great way to strengthen a green thumb!
Above are just some of the opportunities that are open for volunteers. There are many areas where our community values extra efforts, such as our local libraries, parks, food banks and senior centers. Our community needs all the help and support it can get to strengthen the people and environment around us. The slower pace of summer gives us time to foster personal growth, give back and be a part of the solution.
Eileen Liu is a rising senior at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.
Great advice, Ms. Liu, but not just for students on hiatus, for everyone with a bit of spare time and a belief in the promoted cause. I’d add that students or anyone interested in environmental activism not just create articles, videos and documentaries but that they put into practice something to save the environment. Talking the talk isn't getting the job done and in reality, increases carbon emissions. To wit, climate conference attendees who take 400+ private jets to attend a climate conference. Don’t just talk the talk, do something to walk the walk. Or find a better cause to support.
Talking does keep an issue in our minds. And action always starts with thoughts and planning. I highly recommend looking at citizens climate lobby. It is an international and non-partisan group that works to create political will for effective climate legislation (that will reduce our dependence on dirty energy. )
Thanks for your response, ESalinger. Unfortunately, what keeps an issue even more in our minds is when folks, such as the aforementioned climate attendees take 400+ private jets (and who knows how many “public” jets) to attend a conference to, of all things, talk about reducing carbon emissions. Apparently thoughts and planning by the citizens climate lobby do absolutely nothing to keep reducing carbon emissions in these climate conference attendees' minds. And apparently thoughts and planning by the citizens climate lobby do absolutely nothing to reduce the ever increasing emissions due to undeveloped, and even developed, countries from using fossil fuels to fuel their energy needs.
But if you’re saying that all we need to do is talk the talk and not walk the walk, then by all means, go for it. But don’t be surprised when we increase our dependence on your "dirty" energy. Oh wait. No surprise there – it’s been happening ever since the citizens climate lobby was established, and will happen long after the citizens climate lobby ceases to exist.
Environmental activism? How about taking care of the planet and helping others as alternative message. People don't need to be activists to do good things.
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(5) comments
Great advice, Ms. Liu, but not just for students on hiatus, for everyone with a bit of spare time and a belief in the promoted cause. I’d add that students or anyone interested in environmental activism not just create articles, videos and documentaries but that they put into practice something to save the environment. Talking the talk isn't getting the job done and in reality, increases carbon emissions. To wit, climate conference attendees who take 400+ private jets to attend a climate conference. Don’t just talk the talk, do something to walk the walk. Or find a better cause to support.
Talking does keep an issue in our minds. And action always starts with thoughts and planning. I highly recommend looking at citizens climate lobby. It is an international and non-partisan group that works to create political will for effective climate legislation (that will reduce our dependence on dirty energy. )
Thanks for your response, ESalinger. Unfortunately, what keeps an issue even more in our minds is when folks, such as the aforementioned climate attendees take 400+ private jets (and who knows how many “public” jets) to attend a conference to, of all things, talk about reducing carbon emissions. Apparently thoughts and planning by the citizens climate lobby do absolutely nothing to keep reducing carbon emissions in these climate conference attendees' minds. And apparently thoughts and planning by the citizens climate lobby do absolutely nothing to reduce the ever increasing emissions due to undeveloped, and even developed, countries from using fossil fuels to fuel their energy needs.
But if you’re saying that all we need to do is talk the talk and not walk the walk, then by all means, go for it. But don’t be surprised when we increase our dependence on your "dirty" energy. Oh wait. No surprise there – it’s been happening ever since the citizens climate lobby was established, and will happen long after the citizens climate lobby ceases to exist.
Terrence, your expectations are extreme by asking democrats to do as they say and expect & force others to do.
Environmental activism? How about taking care of the planet and helping others as alternative message. People don't need to be activists to do good things.
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