At Blue Valley North, nonprofit organizations play a significant role in students’ service to the community. It is one thing to join a nonprofit or participate in one, but to find your own or take on a leadership role is another.
Nonprofit organizations often have different purposes; however, their motives lie in the fact that they wish to help people in need, whether that is through raising money or holding events to directly assist the community. Nonprofits are a great way to not only help others but also be a part of something bigger.
Seniors Kilderry Kupper and Ava Lake both have varying experiences with nonprofit organizations. Kupper founded a nonprofit organization called “One Crew, One Day” in 2017 with her brother, and Lake started the Blue Valley North Chapter of “Heartwork.”
For Kupper, taking charge in “One Crew, One Day” was a given, considering her brother’s vast role in the organization.
“When he went to college, the executive director position passed on to me,” Kupper said.
While Kupper’s position may have been passed down to her, that does not mean that she has not left her own mark on the organization.
“My most recent thing was that I had a coat drive for a couple of veteran charities, and that was in the winter,” Kupper said.
Winter can be a difficult time for those already struggling. Kupper’s ability to carry out an annual system for veterans in need has now become an imperative part of the community. Although she has had success, she has also encountered setbacks.
“I think the hardest thing I have faced is people not taking me seriously because I started doing this in middle school,” Kupper said.
Sespite starting young and not being valued as a leader, Kupper didn’t give up. And now, as her graduation awaits her, the question of what will happen with “One Crew, One Day” is left unanswered.
“I am not really sure what will happen with it after I graduate, but it is a family organization, so my brother and I will probably continue to hold annual coat drives,” Kupper said.
Senior Ava Lake’s “Heartwork” is an organization similar to Kupper’s in the sense that it strives to assist the community in unique ways. At “Heartwork,” assisting younger kids and students seems to be the main motive.
“To me, my goal for heart work is to go to elementary schools and middle schools and teach young kids, basically, like proactive art education,” Lake said. “So what we do is like we go in and do activities that help them identify and talk about their emotions.”
There are multiple nonprofit organizations that work to provide supplies for those who need them, but what sets “Heartwork” apart is its ability to connect with kids on an emotional and intuitive level.
“This will help them in the future, as they will begin having more complex emotions and feelings, so they will be able to handle those better,” Lake said.
“Heartwork” has had vast success at Blue Valley North despite it only being there for a year.
“I think one of our most significant events is an ongoing one that we participate in, and it is called ‘Giving to the basics,’” Lake said. “It is another nonprofit that we partner with to provide basic needs like shower items and hygiene products for those in need. And we have had so much success. Just yesterday, we packed 26,000 hygiene items.”
Lake is satisfied with the progress her “Heartwork” chapter has made at Blue Valley North, and she has a plan for what it will look like in the following years.
“I’m really sad about leaving, but I do think we’re leaving it in such good hands.”
