School started, finally!  After a wonderfully hectic summer, my girls are back in middle school.  I was looking forward to a regular schedule, when I learned about their Community Service requirements.

I have to admit that I was not comfortable dropping them off at the homeless shelter, animal shelter or any kind of shelter for that matter. I wondered – Would their community service become MY community service?  Blimey, I thought!  If I have to organize and cheer- lead, it’s going to be something interesting.  I sought out the advice of my colleagues…

Amanda French, Realtor at Davidson Realty, Inc. came up with some great ideas for me to consider; reading to younger children at school, writing letters to soldiers who are serving in the military or to children who are hospitalized, and trash pick up at the beach to name a few.  I also received some other great ideas from various Davidson Company Realtors and Staff; Nursing home volunteering, community gardening, church projects, helping at the library and washing dogs at the animal shelter – hmm I’d probably end up bringing one or two dogs home!  Matt Davidson told me that volunteering at the elementary school was something he did as a Middle School student and he quite enjoyed it.

BINGO – a fantastic idea!  I contacted the school and now both daughters are having a great time helping out in the Media Center and grading papers at their previous elementary school, Otis A. Mason.  In fact, they are enjoying it so much that they have decided to do two hours a week instead of one.

A couple of weeks ago, at the crack of dawn, on a beautiful Saturday morning, my younger daughter and I participated in a beach clean up at Crescent Beach.  It was organized by the school and her home room teacher Mr. Gamble, who coordinated the event.  We put on our bright blue rubber gloves and set off down the beach.  The clean up was especially satisfying as Mr. Gamble, a science teacher, explained how beach creatures’ immune and reproductive systems can be damaged by litter debris and trash.  We met some unique and interesting people during the clean-up (it takes all kinds to support the community). We then treated ourselves to a banana pancake breakfast at the beachfront Beachcomber Restaurant! Yes – I love living in St. Augustine!

Last but not least, my most favorite Community Service is the work Sophie and I are doing for Golden Retriever Rescue of NE Florida (GREAT), delivering flyers to my neighbors and colleagues in the hope of receiving donations for their much needed TITUS Fund.  You can read more about this by going to www.greatrescue.org

I truly believe that each one of us should become involved in Community Service – doing something for others to make the world a better place.