The week of February 28-March 4, was Community Engagement (CE) Week at Menlo. Planned by Knight Vision, the School’s Community Engagement club, the week was dedicated to supporting students in finding their purpose in the community and helping them learn more about community engagement at Menlo and the ways they can get involved.

Emily ’22, one of the week’s organizers says “it’s really important that we build a spirited culture around community engagement at Menlo, and CE Week is one of the best ways to do that! This year’s CE Week was super successful in giving everyone the chance to find causes that really resonate with them and highlighting all the amazing, impactful work that students already do for their community.”

Here are some of the week’s highlights

• On Monday, we made 50 blankets for kids in need with Project Linus
• On Tuesday, we had an Upper School Assembly featuring Remi Sobomehin, who is the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. He presented along with three Menlo students (Pippa Fortenbaugh, Gus McGaraghan, Carlo Espinosa) about the benefits of CE for both the volunteers and recipients. 
• On Wednesday, Stanford Blood Center hosted a Blood Drive where students, parents, and faculty donated blood. Our blood drive collected 44 units, which will help a total of 132 patients. 
• Also on Wednesday, during lunch, over 40 students wrote thank you notes to donors of the organization Fit Kids.
• On Thursday, students put together 100 Hygiene Kits for HomeFirst Santa Clara County.
• And to cap the week off, 30 organizations were represented by over 70 students at the CE Fair on Friday. 

“CE Week was a success because we were able to harness the energy of the students and get them involved in so many different activities on campus,” shares Reena ’22, one of Knight Vision’s student leaders. “Through the week, students gained exposure to various causes and ways to engage in service, and hopefully this will propel them to participate in CE opportunities that fulfill them and positively impact those around them.”