Last Friday was Big Walnut Middle School’s Service Day, when middle school students fanned out across the Big Walnut area completing community service projects.

Big Walnut Middle School Assistant Principal Josh Frame said Service Day was not just a Big Walnut Middle School effort — it was global.

“Big Walnut Middle School joined youth across the world for Global Youth Service Day on April 15,” Frame said. “With this landmark event, 100 percent of staff and students at the middle school participated in service projects and learning to impact the local community, our region and the world.”

Frame said a student leadership committee planned, organized and communicated every aspect of Service Day in partnership with the Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce, mayor’s offices of Galena and Sunbury, and United Way of Delaware County.

“Because of the leadership committee’s work, 520 students and 60 adults traveled to over 40 different service sites to provide over 2,000 hours of community service,” Frame said. “Local service examples included reading at our other schools, cleanup crews for local parks, singing in nursing homes, and fly fishing with disabled veterans.”

Word had traveled throughout the community prior to Service Day, and at almost every work site passing cars tooted horns and drivers waved to students.

“Service Day has had a large impact on student leadership development and supported our district’s mission to inspire and guide each student by promoting good deeds, academic achievement and engaged citizenship,” Frame added. “Big Walnut Middle School staff and students would like to thank the Delaware County Foundation and Serve Ohio for their financial support for this project.”