Today Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) sent more than 800 students and faculty members out across the Metroplex to serve during the 14th annual PCA Service Project Day.
"This year, PCA Service Project Day fell one week after our students spent two days being challenged by nationally acclaimed thought-provoking speakers about truth," said Dr. Larry Taylor, PCA Head of School. "Our seventh through twelfth graders and faculty members who serve others across our North Texas community understand that authentic servant leadership takes place as they put aside their needs and focus on the needs of others. We want our students to understand that going beyond the walls of the classroom and reaching out to others in local communities and around the world is an opportunity to invest into others and learn through serving."
The more than 800 students and faculty members served multiple communities in a myriad of ways. Service projects included:
- Restocking and displaying donations at North Collin County Habitat for Humanity ReStore in McKinney
- Yard work at multiple Senior Citizens Services residences in Carrollton and Farmers Branch
- Assisting teachers in classrooms and on the playground at schools including Crossover – Mi Escuelita Preschool, Roseland Homes Head Start Center, Sunnyview Head Start, St. Matthews – Mi Escuelita Preschool and St. Philip's School and Community Center Head Start, all of Dallas
- Serving and providing new shoes for students at an inner-city elementary school in Plano through Samaritan's Feet, a non-profit organization that provides shoes for impoverished children
- Organizing donations and cleaning at Union Gospel Mission Super Thrift Shop in Irving
- Assist with preparation of and serving lunch at Union Gospel Mission – Calvert Place Men's Shelter in Dallas
- Clean and organize stalls at Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding in Wylie
- Sort, pair up and box shoes at Buckner International (Shoes for Orphan Souls) in Mesquite
- Sorting clothes and cleaning the store at GraceBridge Food Bank and Community Outreach in Celina
- Volunteering at H.I.S. BridgeBuilders in South Dallas
- Sorting and stocking shelves at God's Food Pantry in Plano
- Sorting and boxing food at North Texas Food Bank in Dallas
- Stocking shelves and putting together food boxes for Thanksgiving at Frisco Family Services in Frisco
- Visiting with residents and making a craft with them at CC Young Memorial Home in Dallas
PCA senior Berkeley Taylor has participated in six PCA Service Days, and it is a day to which she always looks forward. However, this year was different as she volunteered in a completely new way. "Today our group was assigned to serve at an elementary school and we had the opportunity to wash the feet of all of the children in the school," she said. PCA partnered with Samaritan's Feet to then supply each child with a new pair of tennis shoes. "It was awesome to talk to the kids while we washed their feet and realize that we all struggle with the same issues at our core. I loved being able to get to know these kids, serve them and see their faces light up when they got their new shoes!"
Serving others is one of the core values at Prestonwood Christian Academy, and in addition to today's day of service, PCA's Upper School also participates in "Minimester" during a week in the spring when students go on mission trips locally, nationally or abroad. These events have created a culture of servant hearts among the student body.
"Fulfilling the Great Commission is certainly a passion of mine, and that fire was ignited while I was a student at Prestonwood," said Micah Reis, PCA's Director of Events and PCA Alumna Class of 2003. "As Christians, we are called to share the Gospel, and it's often easiest to do that by serving people both in our local community and around the world. I enjoyed watching the Middle School girls interact with the residents at CC Young Memorial Home today, and I know the impact we made today is similar to the one our Upper School group will make around the world when we go to South Asia on Minimester!"
About Prestonwood Christian Academy
Prestonwood Christian Academy is celebrating its 20th school year serving more than 1,600 students enrolled at three campuses: Plano (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 12th grade), PCA North in Prosper (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 7th grade) and PCAplus Virtual Academy. The school has been recognized as having one of the strongest Christian education programs in the country providing intentional biblical worldview training and integration. PCA places great value on the growth of students' spiritual health in addition to their scholastic endeavors and co-curricular activities. In addition to PCA's spiritual development plan, the school promotes a rigorous Liberal Arts academic program. The graduating class of 2016 was offered more than $15 million in scholarship for academics, arts and athletics from universities and other institutions of higher learning. PCA is currently accepting applications for the 2017-18 school year. Interested families are invited to a PCA Dessert Preview on Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Leadership Center, 6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano 75093. Online reservations can be made at www.prestonwoodchristian.org/admissions. Families may also call 972.930.4010 to schedule a Thursday tour.