The Alexandria Red Cross presented its first annual Humanitarian Youth Service Awards to student groups at four area schools. Tucker Elementary School, George Washington Middle School, the Z Club at T.C. Williams High School, and Blessed Sacrament School were all award recipients at a ceremony held at American Red Cross National Headquarters in Falls Church, March 25.
The Humanitarian Youth Service Awards were established in order to encourage the spirit of volunteerism in the young people of Alexandria.
The winning projects varied widely in range and scope. Tucker Elementary School submitted its “Warming Tree” project, in which students collected winter clothing for distribution to needy residents of the community.
The student council at Blessed Sacrament School conducted a “Dollar Dress for Charity," raising funds for a hypothermia shelter by asking students to contribute a dollar in order to participate in a monthly dress-down day.
The Character Club at George Washington Middle School held both food and fund drives to benefit various local helping organizations.
The Z Club at T.C. Williams High School presented a Valentine’s Day talent show to entertain the elderly residents of the Ladray and Annie B. Rose city housing facilities.
Trophies were presented to the groups by Don Burchell and Pat Moran, both Alexandria Red Cross Burke Award winners. Following the ceremony, the students were invited on a tour of the Red Cross’s Disaster Operations Center, where major disasters all across the country are tracked.