By Karl Moats '04

On a typical Wednesday afternoon at a Hatfield farm, students package sandwiches and food supplies for the homeless as part of the food-bank warehouse service project. This is the latest new project of the ever-expanding community service program.

In just under eight years, community service has expanded from no service projects to over thirty this year. They range from weekend projects such as farm projects, river clean-ups, and Habitat for Humanity to Round Square projects that take place through out the world.

With an ambitious student community service board under the leadership of Seniors Erica Mayyasi and Rachel Gittelman and building student interest, it will continue to grow next year, said art teacher Mara Whalen '95.

All this would have been a dream when she was a student. During her time, community service did not exist in a co-curricular form. Last year 252 students participated in weekend service projects, the highest ever.

As the new director of community service, Ms. Whalen is building on the increased student interest. She said she is pleased with the enormous amount of student energy.

In collaboration with the Northfield Mount Hermon community service program, Ms. Whalen has organized a Connecticut river clean-up scheduled for September 27 and Battle of the Bands fundraiser between the Deerfield, Greenfield High, and NMH student bands on November 15.

"The planning with NMH is an example of the interconnectedness that I hope to bring to the community service program," Ms. Whalen said. "If we can bring the spiritual, outdoor, and service together as one unit, we will achieve great things."