Student Government Association of DeBary

Daily Point of Light # 3449 Apr 24, 2007

Reaching out to the community is important to the students at DeBary Elementary School. The DeBary Elementary Student Government Association leads their efforts. This group of students is very active not only as leaders in the school but also initiating and planning projects to help others in the community.

The DeBary Elementary Student Government Association initiated a year-long project entitled Heart to Heart. The project took place at DeBary Manor, nursing home in DeBary, FL. The students visited the Manor on the regular basis. Besides just their regular visits, the students initiated activities to be done with the Manor residents such as helping residents plant flowers, decorating doors for holidays and assisting with Bingo.

The interchange between DeBary Manor residents and the DeBary Elementary Student Government Association students has been a wonderful learning experience for all. The lives of the Manor residents, who are sometimes lonely and forgotten, have been brightened and the residents are excited when the students come to visit. The students are always anxious to return and continue to develop the bond they have with the residents.

The DeBary Elementary Student Government Association has also taken the lead in helping others in the community. They led a Toys for Tots drive, a food drive for needy families and a food drive for needy pets and animals. They also had a Christmas collection for items needed for the DeBary Manor Residents. Recently, the SGA and the students of DeBary Elementary participated in the MDA Shamrock fundraiser, sending in almost four hundred dollars to help Jerry's Kids and the MDA Foundation.

DeBary Elementary Student Government Association was nominated by DeBary Elementary for the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year awards presented by the United Way’s Volunteer Center of Volusia-Flagler Counties, FL, and Bright House Networks. Because of their work within their community, DeBary Elementary Student government Association has been recognized as outstanding youth volunteers.


jaytennier