Valwood Service in the Community

HAHIRA, GA – December 4, 2025 - What do you do when you have everything you could possibly need? You give something back. Such is the meaning of service: devoting one’s time, resources, and compassion to assist the people who lack the most. This principle comprises one of the three foundational pillars of the Valwood School Mission of academics, character, and service. 

All Valwood students are expected to demonstrate their respect and obligation to service the entirety of their academic career. This strive for altruism is best exemplified in the many service projects carried out throughout the year by students who provide their peers with the invaluable opportunity to give back to their community through efforts that include donating food and necessities and engaging in hands-on volunteer work. 

Senior, Nicholas Alvarado, has participated in several service projects throughout his 14 years at Valwood School. The most notable being LEAP or Let Everyone Attend and Participate, an effort he has helped lead since sixth grade. The objective of LEAP is to collect gently used sports equipment and clothing from Valwood families to donate to Berrien County’s recreation department to provide all children, both privileged and disadvantaged, with the opportunity to play sports.

Sisters Julia and Evelyn Soshnik, a junior and a freshman, respectively, created the Page Turners and Paints Pantry, a cabinet containing free books and art supplies donated by Valwood families. Featured at the Turner Center for the Arts, the mission of the Soshniks’ cabinet is to share the joy of reading and creativity with children who may lack access to these materials.

Senior Tyler Sadler has led student participation in the First Baptist Church Food Pantry, in which a group of Valwood students volunteer their time every third Saturday of each month to provide food and assistance to individuals and families in need year-round. 

For the past two years, sophomore Rylan Neal has assisted in the Pages of Possibilities program, in which he led a book drive at Valwood. This program covers all Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade classes in the Valdosta city school system and provides over 3,500 books a year to elementary students in Valdosta. During his time with the program, Rylan has collected nearly 500 books from the Valwood family to be given to the children of Valdosta.

Through these projects, and countless others throughout the year, Valwood students are given meaningful opportunities to serve not only their school, but the close-knit community they call home. Because of their generosity, children across Valdosta, regardless of circumstance, gain access to the education, enrichment, and creativity that help them grow, all made possible by the hearts and hands of students and families eager to give back.

Written by Valwood senior William Holloway.

Read the Valdosta Daily Times Article here: https://valdostadailytimes.com/2025/12/08/valwood-students-serve-the-community-in-many-ways/