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Each month, our Lower School students gather for a heartwarming tradition: the collection of sandwiches during our community gathering. With excitement and pride, students walk their sandwiches down the aisle, placing them into an ever-growing basket at the front of the family room. Soon, the basket overflows, and we bring in extra boxes and bags to collect the donated sandwiches. After counting the sandwiches, we announce the total, celebrating our students’ impact by helping to feed someone who might have gone hungry that day. A Home and School Association representative meets us in the kitchen, loads up the sandwiches, and delivers them to the Emmanuel Dining Room in Wilmington.

This wonderful tradition kicks off every October. We engage students in a meaningful discussion about food insecurity and come together as a community to prepare lunch bags for the Emmanuel Dining Room. Each grade level contributes to the effort by bringing in an item and preparing the bags: fifth graders assemble sandwiches, fourth graders pack the bags, and kindergarten through third-grade students decorate the bags and write personal notes to accompany them.

Why do we prioritize service projects like this at Tatnall? One reason is that service is a powerful expression of our core value of citizenship. Caring for our community is one of the greatest acts of citizenship we can model for our children. But there’s more to it: service isn’t just good for the community—it’s incredibly beneficial for our students, too!

I’m reminded of an old episode of Friends where Phoebe tries to prove that doing a good deed can be truly selfless. The conclusion? It’s almost impossible because helping others makes us feel good too! And there’s research to back it up. When children volunteer, it boosts their empathy as they learn about other people’s experiences and circumstances. Service also increases gratitude, which we know directly supports mental health. Volunteering can teach responsibility and sometimes even a new skill! I remember volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in high school and learning to hang insulation and build a deck! Research shows that volunteering may even correlate with better academic performance. 

So, while service at Tatnall is a key part of our mission and deeply tied to our value of citizenship, it’s also a gift to our students. It helps them grow, learn, and connect in ways that will benefit them for years. Looking ahead to October 16th, we couldn’t be more grateful for your partnership in continuing this annual tradition, and we couldn’t be prouder of the work our students do to make a difference.