For my Independent Service Project, I raised $800 (60% more than my original $500 goal) for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing life-changing opportunities to young people in need. After learning about the joy the foundation brings others, I became very inspired to support its mission to help create opportunities for young people.
The idea behind my Independent Service Project stemmed from my passion for cleaning my local beaches. For years, my dad and I have taken my dog for walks on the beach while picking up litter along the way. During these walks, we also love searching for sea glass. Because of this, I decided to combine something I already loved with my desire to give back. I used the sea glass we found over the years to make handmade necklaces.
After coming up with this idea, I was surprised how much research, time, and thought was needed to create the jewelry. I needed to figure out different design ideas, find the right size and color of materials, and learn how to curate each necklace to be more special than the other. Once I created the necklaces, I made flyers and reached out to family, friends, and others in my community to see if they would like to purchase a sea glass necklace.
It was eye opening, getting to see firsthand how much work and dedication is required to create something with care that can have a positive impact on others. This project showed me that something as simple as collecting sea glass during walks with my dad could be turned into an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.
Written by HLFYA Hannah Healy
