Meet Frankie.
Age: 15
Country of origin: United States.
Can you tell a fun fact about yourself?
I can play base guitar.
Why did you choose to be a part of this particular project?
I chose this project because it’s part of my school program—if we complete a certain number of service hours, we get to go on a hike in Germany at the end of the year. I also brought my family along to volunteer today, which made the experience even more special.
When and how did you first get involved with Serve the City?
While my school partners with several clubs, they didn’t offer enough opportunities to complete the required service hours. With Serve the City, I love the flexibility—it’s easy to come an hour earlier on Friday mornings before school or even volunteer on the weekends.
How does volunteering add value to your daily life?
It makes me feel like I have a purpose and that I’m helping something bigger than me. I’m doing this for my school and to get to do this hike at the end of the year but I’d love to do this when I’m older and keep on helping out.
What is your best volunteering memory so far?
One of my favorite volunteering memories is with my friend who also volunteers with Serve the City. We always seem to find crazy things while cleaning the park—last time, she found a worker’s vest, and now we have inside jokes about it. I also love involving my family in volunteering. My grandfather, who’s 82, even came along to help, which made it extra special.
Have you learned something new about yourself through volunteering?
One thing I’ve learned about myself through volunteering is that it’s a bit of a workout too! I’ve noticed my arms are getting stronger, so it’s like I’m getting some exercise while helping out.
Why should other Amsterdammers give volunteering with Serve the City a go?
Amsterdammers should definitely give volunteering with STC a try because it’s so local and brings together a wide variety of people. There are so many different projects and opportunities to get involved, and it’s really flexible some projects only take a couple of hours, so it’s easy to fit into your schedule.
How do you think today’s project impacts the community in the short and long-term?
In the short term, today’s project makes the park cleaner and greener, which is great for the people who live here. In the long term, as more people see Serve the City volunteers cleaning up every month, I think it will inspire others to join in and make an even bigger impact on the community.
