Cjonline.com reports on their Education Watch. Washburn Rural eighth-graders are reaching out to the community by volunteering. 115 students took part in the Shawnee County community service projects last week. Christi Evans, WRMS Skills for Adolescents teacher  said, "I hope this will give them a taste of volunteering, when they see people less fortunate than them."

The students can request where they would like to volunteer but must fill out an application as to why they would make a good volunteer. They must also have all their school assignments completed.

Last week, the students were at the Topeka Rescue Mission, Let's Help Inc., Auburn Community Center, Auburn -Washburn elementary schools and the Salvation Army where they rang the bells for the red bucket donations. Bailey Barnes, 13, helped prepare the lunch at the Rescue Mission which made her think about homelessness. She said, "I wonder what it's like to be homeless. I would want somebody to help me if I was homeless."

Nancy Negrete, 14, also helped at the Topeka Rescue Mission. She commented, "I'm not the most emotional person, but it's emotional knowing these people just have the clothes on their backs. They might be really down but just smiling at them, it lets them know someone cares about them."

Evans, sums up the students volunteering experience by saying, "It's a lifelong learning process. They can do this kind of work in some form or another throughout their lives." Read more.

Homeless  is a young adult book that has opposing viewpoints about homelessness. Volunteering to Help in Your Neighborhood is also a young adult book that gives ideas of good places to volunteer.