An important part of the Public Purpose Program in the Middle School is the Eighth Grade Social Impact Day, which entails students learning about Public Purpose and participating in several volunteer visits to RCDS’s community partners.

Prior to the site visits, the entire eighth grade participates in a 2-hour workshop with Director of Public Purpose Rebecca Drago where they discuss different approaches to Public Purpose including activism, volunteer work, and government & policy. Students research the non-profits they are assigned to visit and think about how each organization is working to improve our community.

Over two days, students visit two non-profit organizations to participate in volunteer projects. Locations and assignments included the following:

• Organizing and sorting through donated clothes at  The Sharing Shelf in Port Chester
• Working at the Carver Market food pantry The Carver Center in Port Chester and organizing materials for their upcoming summer camp 
• Mulching, clearing paths, weeding, and planting at Our New Way Garden in West Harrison
• Organizing and sorting through donations at The Furniture Sharehouse in West Harrison
• Beautifying a small garden plot outside of Building One Community in Stamford, CT