The Value of Giving Back, 9/8/2026
Papillion La Vista High School junior Connor McKelvey spent time over the summer volunteering with NeighborGood food pantry, which relies on volunteer support to help clients, sort donations, stock shelves, and bag groceries. As a member of the National Honor Society at PLHS, Connor is required to maintain a threshold of volunteer hours.
"It's important for students my age to engage with our communities because it's honestly a sort of life skill to be able to not only communicate with people, but help them out," he notes. "Especially when you're young, when you have a lot of time that you're able to give."
RJ Vitera, now a senior at PLHS, also dedicated part of his summer to volunteering. A member of the group Teen Faith at his church, RJ participates in activities to give back to his church and the community. The group regularly creates care bags for vulnerable groups like the unhoused or pregnant women, among other services opportunities. Over the summer, RJ volunteered at the church's fireworks tent.
"The value of volunteering is being able to help others and hopefully make their lives better," RJ explains. "And it's not only rewarding for them, but it's also rewarding for me. Being able to see other people's lives hopefully improve makes me feel good."
Both Connor and RJ are on the Monarch football team. While sports participation has grown them in leadership skills and team building, both express the value in engaging in a variety of extracurricular activities, including community service.
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"All the new experiences that you learn, you keep learning from that as you go forward with your life," reflects RJ. "Situations where you do need to take charge and kind of guide others in the right direction - I've learned that through volunteering and things of that nature."
"We have a lot of time and a lot of energy to expend, so having extra activities is very important for us," says Connor. "It's good for your mental health too."
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