Almost everyone in Hutchinson, Minnesota, knows where Maplewood Academy is. It’s the school up on the hill, the one with a lawn full of dazzling maples, the school where kids live in dorms and people go to church on Saturdays. But thanks to a smiling army of hardworking students, Maplewood has also gained another reputation: It’s become the best place in town to find consistent, eager community volunteers.
Because of longtime relationships formed by school registrar Laura Cummings, local service groups have learned to call Maplewood first when they need helpers who won’t let them down. Many staff members share Laura’s passion for discipling students in outreach, including chaplains September De Franca and Linda Vigil.
Looking for extra holiday bell ringers in December? Maplewood students will pull on their hats and mittens and show up.
Need enough volunteers to sort and pack more than 3,000 Christmas shoeboxes, plus a few strong arms to load the boxes onto semi-trailers? Maplewood students (along with friends from Hutchinson Adventist Church) would love to help.
Wondering how to gather and organize 2,000 pounds of food needed for Thanksgiving baskets? Maplewood students can do that too.
These ministries are familiar, and that’s part of the secret. Food pantries, senior centers, and adopt-a-highway programs probably exist in your town also. By partnering with established charity groups, Adventist churches and schools can double the impact of our service efforts. First, we bless neighbors who need food, clothing, or friendship (Matthew 25). Second, we form meaningful connections with other volunteers who care deeply about the community.
One of Maplewood’s most fruitful partnerships is with Common Cup, a local organization dedicated to sharing spiritual and financial resources with those in need. As part of a program called Hunger Free McLeod County, students and other volunteers pack hundreds of meals, which are then delivered to schools where teachers can slip them into children’s backpacks so they have easy-to-make meals for the weekend.
You may have heard this question: “If your church (or school) disappeared tomorrow, would anyone notice? And would they miss you?”
Thanks to the untiring efforts of Laura Cummings and her fellow teachers, Maplewood students have become an irreplaceable force for good in their neighborhood. They are known for their willing smiles, their contagious laughter, and their habit of pausing to pray for the recipients of their service.
In addition to gaining diplomas and scholarships, these students will finish academy with the eternal wisdom they gained while walking in the footsteps of Jesus. “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matt. 25:35, 36, NIV).
