Small impacts may seem pointless to some, however, after participating in the Day of Caring at Honeoye Central School, many came to the realization that what may have once been silly in their minds helps others in great ways. On Friday October 3, all students, pre-k through 12 at Honeoye Central made differences throughout the community.

After receiving the beautifully designed shirts by Zara, an HCS Senior, the 6th graders headed out to the Honeoye Community Garden, the Richmond Town Hall, and the Richmond Fire Department. Our 7th graders stayed right at the school and helped paint inspirational rocks to leave in the courtyards, made birdhouses and planted bulbs around the school. Sandy Bottom got some attention from the 8th graders by painting bathroom floors and picnic tables.

The freshman class was split into two groups in order to help as many around our community as possible. Some went to the Bristol Library, Levi Corser Park and the Bristol Fire Department and others from the freshman class went to Allen’s Hill Library. The sophomores headed to Richmond to help with outside work around the town. Garden work around our town was mainly completed by the juniors who headed to Canandice, Hemlock Community Center, St. Mary’s, UCC and the Honeoye Baseball field.

However, our seniors stayed together for their last year participating in Honeoye’s Day of Caring and went to Ontario County Park to do some outside work and stain picnic tables. 

As every group came back together to the school for a very delicious pizza lunch served by administrators and Board of Education members, the air was filled with the never-ending sounds of laughter and, most of all, hearts full of kindness. If you decided to look around at lunch and during the drone picture of all members of our school, you would have seen paint splattered on everyone’s shirts, but this paint stood for more than just helping the community; it also stood for the pride all of us have for our school.

The Day of Caring at Honeoye shows how everyone at this school will come together when others need it most. I truly believe that our community does an immense amount for our school simply based on their love for HCS. Last year the boys basketball team went to State final, and the community rallied behind it, even paying for the spectator buses and inspiring the team to perform to the best of its ability. Kindness from our community to our school is never ending, so we should give the kindness back. 

Our school is different, our school is better, our school is great because our school gives like no other does. At our Pep Rally at the end of the Day of Caring, the teachers and students participated together to share some laughs with each other while playing games. After the Day of Caring, the students at our school left with memories, pictures, and best of all, a smile on their faces.   

Imagine if this Day of Caring weren't just one single day of the year. Imagine if the impact that the day of caring makes were trickled into more days, more groups, or just the norm around town.

Many hands make for light work and that is proven to be true when the Honeoye Central School District participates in the Day of Caring.