The Orono Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) sponsored the second annual Family Service Night on April 20 at the Orono Intermediate School.

Family Service Night features a variety of opportunities for families and other community members interested in participating in simple and fun hands-on projects that benefit non-profit organizations in the community.

Various local organizations were set up in the gym where parents and students worked together to complete a service project while learning about the organization and discovering how your family can stay involved with the organization in the future. All activities were suitable for students in grades K-5.

Organizations that participated in this service night include the Ronald McDonald House, IOCP, the Family Partnership, Orono Healthy Youth, Doing Good Together, Pinky Swear, local food shelves and many more.

Families were asked to bring a gently used book to donate to Read Indeed, a local charity started by senior Maria Keller. This charity has donated more than one million books to children around the world.

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Each Do Good Together (DGT) Family Service Fair includes projects such as educational toys for children in crisis, dinner kits for low-income families, toys for orphaned animals, “happy mail” for children struggling with serious illnesses and hygiene kits for homeless families, according to the DGT website.

There has been a strong staff presence supporting the event both years that this fair has been going on at OIS, and they are looking forward to others who would like to participate next year.

Family Service Night was a wonderful opportunity for families to come together to learn about service and how to stay involved with the community in the future.

If you want to know more about future service events, or if you would like to help or know of any OHS students looking for volunteer opportunities, please contact the K-12 Service Learning Coordinator, Jennifer Lubke.