There's no better heart than the heart of a volunteer, are the words that Emelee Rajzer, financial services officer in GreenStone’s Schoolcraft office lives out in her life. Rajzer volunteers with several different organizations, but TAP (Teachers and Parents) at Davis Elementary School is the organization that she leads.
As president of the TAP organization, Rajzer has led several events for the school and the kids. One event that occurs each month is free popcorn day – which is literately just that, a day when kids get excited to be treated to a bag of popcorn during class. Rajzer is in charge of gathering the needed supplies and finding volunteers to assist with popping over four hundred bags of popcorn for the students.
Preparing for popcorn day at the school!
Free popcorn day is not the only thing the kids get to look forward to; each holiday the TAP organization creates little treat bags for the kids. This past year for Christmas each classroom got a cookie kit. The food services team baked the sugar cookies, and TAP provided the frosting and sprinkles for the kids to decorate with. “The kits covered every free spot in my living room until I was able to get them to the school,” Rajzer laughs.
The reason she does it? She wants to ensure each child gets the full experience of school, not only in the classroom but outside of the classroom as well. “It is just so important that not only my kids, but other kids as well have the full experience of school,” Rajzer says.
Mother-Son bowling event.
The TAP organization has been around for quite some time, but unfortunately during the pandemic the organization had dissolved. When things started to open back up again the new principal had reached out for volunteers. Rajzer and another mom decided to sign up together!
Rajzer had heard of the group before, her mother in-law actually started the organization. Now Rajzer is following in her footsteps by leading the group with great success!
“My mother-in-law helped start this group many, many years ago, when her kids were in school. A couple of the moms that were part of the group at that time had reached out to me and said Dina ‘would be smiling at you in heaven right now knowing that you've taken this on and her legacy is living on.’” Rajzer smiled.
Rajzer is continuing a legacy and passing down her volunteer heart to her children! She now watches the impact that she has had on her family as her son gets involved with the school. Not only has he helped her with putting together the goody bags for the other students, but he started getting involved in student council as well.
Emelee and her son at the school Dash event.
“He sees his parents getting involved in the community, and I think that's instilled in him and he’s carrying it on. It is near and dear to my heart that my oldest is in student council now because he is the first to jump up and help with different events. My kids see the importance of volunteering in our community and the impact that it has,” Rajzer says.
Rajzer is not only impacting her kids, but she is impacting other kids and parents in the community by leading this organization that allows kids and parents to get involved in activities outside of the classroom. GreenStone is proud of staff members like Rajzer who take the leadership role outside of the office and into the community. Learn more about our community outreach and engagement efforts by visiting Outreach | GreenStone FCS.
