A Helping Hand

Tallulah Falls School students loaded up buses and spread out through the local community to lend a helping hand, and the timing could not have been better in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. In addition to serving local ministries and schools, students assisted with cleanup efforts and supply distribution throughout the area.  

On Tuesday, October 1, TFS fifth graders visited Get Real ministries in Baldwin. They picked up debris from the storm on the Get Real property. After a quick water break, they packed Halloween candy bags for the local community served by Get Real. 

While they were there, word came through that later in the day, an airplane was flying from Habersham County Airport to Western North Carolina with a much-needed water supply. Get Real Ministries had a pallet of water that needed to be transported to the airport, so the group enthusiastically loaded the cases onto the TFS bus, took the water to the airport, and prepared it for delivery.

“We are so blessed, and we want to share with others. We want to bring hope and light to our community,” said Dean of Students Jimmy Franklin. Each month, a different grade from the lower and middle school works with Get Real on a "Be the Light" service project. 

The upper school’s Service Day was held on Friday, October 5. Over 300 students from the TFS upper school gave a helping hand throughout the community. They worked at Circle of Hope, Rabun Paws 4 Life Shelter, Sharing and Caring, Clayton Community Food Bank, North Georgia Christian Camp, Lighthouse Learning Coop, the Tallulah Gorge State Park Interpretive Center, and the TFS campus.

“Today was a great chance to get out of the classroom and learn one of the most important life skills – the importance of serving others,” said junior Kaylin Pickett. “This experience taught me to be grateful, and I am grateful to have the ability to help others. I would love to do more service projects like this!”

Groups cleaned up storm debris, organized and sorted food, clothes, and other resources, taught a STEM class, painted fences, and cared for animals. "Together, we can transform things like painting a fence into a symbol of our unity and commitment to our community,” said junior Selah Wiltshire, “We can paint a brighter future one stroke at a time." 

Upper school academic dean Jeremy Stille said that Service Day gave students the time to serve the local community and take the opportunity to reflect on their blessings. “Especially with the recent devastation from Hurricane Helene, our students' choice to give time and energy to help others shows strong character and a sense of caring that we want our students to develop," said upper school academic dean Jeremy Stille.