BOUTTE — Hahnville High School teachers Jennifer Hebert, Deborah Unger, Donna Broussard, Jasper Vinnett and April Black recently received a $12,712.00 Service Learning Grant from the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation.

Through “Adolescents Advocate Literacy” project, $5,400 will be used to promote reading within the St. Charles Parish community.

One literacy project involves a partnership with various St. Charles Parish elementary schools, where HHS students will read to approximately 25 classes, organize activities related to the books and present the books as gifts for those elementary classroom libraries.

For another literacy project HHS students will read and write book reviews for books that they will select during a field trip to Barnes and Noble.

Through “Adults Reached Through Students” project, $3,000 will be used to help students socialize with older adults and develop relationships with individuals outside of the classroom and school environment.

Organizers said the program would give them a chance to learn about other people in their community and develop a respect for senior citizens.

Students from HHS will visit the Norco Adult Day Care Center five times from September through April to participate in social gatherings that promote communication skills, fine motor skills and reflection while working on art activities together.

Another portion of the grant will be used to give students the opportunity to volunteer at the local Second Harvest Food Bank.

Students will choose three activities per month in which to participate: working in the community garden, helping Second Harvest volunteers to sort food items and set up the food baskets to be given to Second Harvest clients, handing out food baskets to Second Harvest clients, or serving a prepared lunch to Second Harvest volunteers.

Students will take pictures of their activities and compile a portfolio with pictures and reflections on their service activities.

Another group of students will use grant funds to adapt recipes and  make lunches for members of the HHS faculty and community members  to purchase in order to raise money for the Children’s Hospital.

Students will visit the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans to deliver the funds. Pictures will be taken as the students prepare and serve the lunches for the fund raiser.

Students will use these pictures along with a  recipe book and budget sheets to create a reflection portfolio.