A Tour of Work Wednesday

Work Wednesday

On Wednesday of each week throughout the year, Northfield students put aside traditional classes to engage in hands-on learning that is of service to the community. Three of those projects are Habitat for Humanity, The Tree House, and Hospitals of Hope. As Warren Snyder, a fundraiser and history teacher at Northfield, says, “Good, hard work cements learning into the soul.”

Habitat for Humanity by B.J. Brinkman (class of 2010)

Every Wednesday at Northfield, everyone separates into groups to lend a hand to the community.  Mornings open with singing, then students are put to work. Usually, the younger kids stay at school and help clean. These younger ones maintain the school grounds by sweeping, mopping, or performing whatever other jobs are needed to keep a clean and orderly school. The older kids travel all over the Wichita area to help the community in any way possible. Some of these missions include helping widows or overwhelmed families, cleaning vacant homes, going to organizations that assist the homeless, and even building houses for Habitat for Humanity. With the appropriate attitudes and ready hands, the community is always calling these boys and girls back to do more.

I have the privilege to work at Habitat for Humanity. The last time I went, I painted and moved lumber, but I have also done other jobs. Once, I helped to trim rooms of a house; another time, I helped to put in insulation and built the skeletal outline of the house.

Whether it is moving lumber or nailing in wallboards, the Northfield team is there to help Habitat for Humanity. I have learned to believe in the great work being accomplished there. I enjoy going to Habitat for Humanity to see all of the volunteers who come to serve. Every single week there are new people there from churches and other organizations who come to help people who cannot afford to buy houses. It is hard work, but we are learning diligence and teamwork every week. Northfield is blessed to have an opportunity like this to help her community. Every week we return ready for more work. Every hour counts. Everybody puts in all of his or her effort; this is Northfield School of Liberal Arts.

The Tree House by Janae Zimmerman (class of 2010)

The Tree House is a ministry in Wichita that reaches out to young, single, or low-income mothers. It is a non-profit organization that helps women by providing diapers and formula, beginning with the birth of the baby and ending when the child is about four years old. To offset the cost of these services, the Tree House operates a thrift store, which sells clothes, shoes, socks, blankets, and toys at decent prices. The Tree House also provides parenting classes for mothers, in which they not only learn parenting skills, but also find fellowship with other mothers. This amazing organization is run by three full-time employees and a few consistent volunteers.

I usually help with the thrift store. I work in one of the back rooms, sorting through clothing donations, pairing outfits, and restocking when necessary. Sorting is very important, because the only sizes the shop sells are newborn through 4T, and many donations are oversized. After sorting the clothes by size, they are sorted by season, then paired (made into outfits) and stored in bins that are labeled according to size and season until they are needed in the store.

I love coming here because it reminds me of the service that the Lord has called us to, service to Him and His people. It makes me want to be a permanent part of the Tree House for every Work Wednesday.

Hospitals of Hope by Chas Thompson (class of 2009)

Text and photos to come.