A local American Heritage Girls Explorer recently received the highest level of the president’s Volunteer Service Award.
Rachel Chance, a 9-year-old Explorer in American Heritage Girls Troop 2415 in Copper Canyon, served over 75 hours of volunteer time last year and was recognized for that service last week by the White House.
Rachel, a homeschooled student, volunteered with the Salvation Army’s bell-ringer program, its Angel Tree program and its soup kitchen in Lewisville, according to her mother, Kim Chance. Rachel also volunteered at The Next Steps Center in Lewisville by putting together Baskets of Love, gathering food for Thanksgiving food to be donated and sorting clothes for a baby thrift store for young mothers through the Young lives program. She planted a garden and painted picnic tables for Lewisville Elementary School, packed backpacks for Lewisville ISD’s Back to School Bash, made boxes for Operation Christmas Child, sorted shoes for Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls in Dallas, led a supply drive for victims of Hurricane Harvey and many more service projects.
President Volunteer Service Award recipients may get the bronze level for 25 hours, silver level for 50 hours or, as Rachel did, the gold level for 75 hours of volunteer service. She received a certificate, pin and a letter from President Donald Trump, which thanked Rachel for serving as a “model of the American spirit.”
“On behalf of a grateful Nation, I thank you for your service to your fellow Americans and those most in need,” a portion of Trump’s letter said. “Through your dedicated service, you have ensured the continuation of America’s unparalleled commitment to improving the lives of others.”
Here are some links to volunteer opportunities for other children and teenagers:
- Salvation Army DFW
- Next Step Center in Lewisville
- Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls
- Graceful Buys in Grapevine
- Meals on Wheels
- VolunTEENS
- Town of Flower Mound
- Cards for Hospitalized Kids
- Project Linus
- Operation Christmas Child
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