Operation Blessing
Landstown High School

This community outreach partnership ensured that many needy Virginia Beach families were nourished in both body and spirit. In cooperation with Operation Blessing, Landstown High School's students and faculty filled 1,600 bags with food for needy families and distributed them before the holiday break, after having raised $4,100 in donations through classroom competitions, dances and food sales. Fifty Landstown students also volunteered to serve dinner at Operation Blessing's annual dinner, an experience that gave them a better understanding of challenges others may face, and a recognition and appreciation of the many blessings in their own lives. Academic benefits of this service project included the development of math and business skills, as students calculated costs of goods, and implemented marketing strategies through the promotion of partnership activities. This Model Partnership helps to teach the value of community service and responsible citizenry. This outreach partnership serves as an example of community spirit in action!