The purpose of life is not only to be happy; it is to make others happy, be honest and compassionate. Even though we are just in high school, we can do a lot to help others. This is the first year of Wakefield’s partnership with The Action Team. The Action Team is unique in that all service activities are tailored to meet and address needs in our community. It is sponsored by The Major League Baseball Players Trust and Volunteers of America. Student and adult advisors work together to serve the homeless, work shifts in our local food banks, and do community clean ups in local parks and streams. The best part is the variety of activities: we may go to a local group home for disabled adults and give out invitations for an evening to celebrate a resident’s birthday, or bake a pumpkin pie together at Thanksgiving. Not only does this program strengthen the community, but it also supports our youth and our families by encouraging good decision making.

Parent sponsor, Donna Budway, explains the club further, “The Action Team is a great place to meet new friends while also helping to support some of the most vulnerable people in Arlington. When you join the Action Team you are helping to support the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), Arlington Street People Assistance Network (ASPAN), Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) and several local shelters and group homes.” The Wakefield Action Team president Eve Giordano adds, the ”Action team is special! I really love giving back to my community and I encourage my classmates to do the same. I love meeting with our small Wakefield group as well as county wide meetings where chapters come together. We always think of new ways for us to become more involved in helping our community and others.” If you are interested in joining or supporting the Wakefield Action Team, please contact our Faculty Adviser: [email protected] or Parent Representatives: [email protected] and [email protected]. This is great opportunity to help others, make friends and have fun!

Here is a short list of some of the events sponsored by The Action Team:

November 30 – Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) from 8:30 – 11:30 AM. We will be working in the warehouse and helping with food distribution so dress to work. Please meet at AFAC, 2708 South Nelson Street, Arlington, VA22206.

December 2 – Holiday cookies and gingerbread house party at South Irving House, 6-7 PM.

January 20 – MLK Day Neighborhood & Stream Cleanup, 10 am to noon. Help make Martin Luther King Day a day of service. Volunteer to clean up a section of the Four Mile Run road and stream and keep trash out of Arlington County’s largest stream watershed. Registration required. January 30– Serving the Homeless. Meet at OaklandMiniPark in Arlington at 6 PM.

 February 14 – Valentines Party at South Irving Group Home.

March 29 – Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) from 8:30 – 11:30 AM. We will be working in the warehouse and helping with food distribution so dress to work. Please meet at AFAC, 2708 South Nelson Street, Arlington, VA22206.

 April 29 – Serving the Homeless. Meet at OaklandMiniPark in Arlington at 6 PM.

 May 29 – Serving the Homeless. Meet at Oakland Mini Park in Arlington at 6 PM.

 May 31– Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) from 8:30 – 11:30 AM. We will be working in the warehouse and helping with food distribution so dress to work. Please meet at AFAC, 2708 South Nelson Street, Arlington, VA 22206.

 June – Summer kickoff Party at South Irving Group Home.

 July 29 – Serving the Homeless. Meet at OaklandMiniPark in Arlington at 6 PM.

 August 30 – Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) from 8:30 – 11:30 AM. We will be working in the warehouse and helping with food distribution so dress to work. Please meet at AFAC, 2708 South Nelson Street, Arlington, VA 22206.