Junior Katy Vanderwoude hugs Belong Ministry participant Katherine Chandler at the Belong Halloween Party. The Benefiting Belong club organizes events and parties for the Belong Disability Ministry at Highland Park United Methodist Church. “I always [try to] make sure [the participants with disabilities] are having fun and are looked at the same way as the rest of us are, and not looked down upon,” vice president of Benefiting Belong Piper Heath said. Photo by Mila Segal.
By Mila Segal
The school has over 150 student run organizations, and this year, a new one joins the ranks.
Juniors Katy Vanderwoude and Piper Heath created the club Benefiting Belong to support the Belong Disability Ministry with various things such as volunteers, planning events, and doing service projects.
“We just love to give back to Belong,” vice president Piper Heath said.
The Belong Disability Ministry at Highland Park United Methodist Church is a program that welcomes people with disabilities of all ages and faiths to join and participate in activities together. Heath wanted to join club president Vanderwoude because she loves the club's mission.
“We wanted to have a welcoming and inclusive club for kids with and without disabilities to volunteer and have fun together,” Heath said.
A big part of the club is inclusivity. Heath tries to make all people feel welcomed and equal at every event and meeting.
“I always [try to] make sure [the participants with disabilities] are having fun and are looked at the same way as the rest of us are, and not looked down upon,” Heath said.
Belong Ministry Volunteer and Operations Coordinator Olivia Twining emphasized the contributions Benefiting Belong has made to support the Belong Ministry program.
“[Benefitting Belong] showing up and asking how they can help our ministry has been incredible” Twining said.
Twining started out in Belong Ministry as a volunteer in 2017, and really connected with the ministry’s mission. So, in 2022 she left her job in marketing to work there.
“Being in a place with people who aren't always included, and getting to be kind to them and make them feel loved is really rewarding."
“I just fell in love with the program and everything they had to offer,” Twining said.
Junior and club member Claire Vaughn regularly volunteers with the ministry. Vaughn was excited when the Benefiting Belong club was created because of her connection to the Belong organization. Her love for Belong stems from the sweet kids she volunteers with.
“When I saw [Benefiting Belong] was a club I was so excited because I try to volunteer every Sunday with all the kids [in Belong],” Vaughn said. “It was really exciting to see that somebody else really cared about this program too.”
Similar to Heath, Vaughn is passionate about inclusivity, and how it ties into the club.
“Being in a place with people who aren't always included, and getting to be kind to them and make them feel loved is really rewarding,” Vaughn said.
Vaughn enjoys the work she does with Benefiting Belong, stressing how instrumental the club has been in helping the ministry.
“I think the club has done a really good job of always being here, and doing whatever Belong may need to help out,” Vaughn said.
Junior and club member Owen Johnson similarly loves being in the Benefiting Belong club at school because of his passion for the Belong Ministry.
“Everyone deserves a chance to feel special and included in everyday activities,” Johnson said. “We support those that are different from us.”
“You can always take time out of your day to make someone else's day a lot better."
So far, Johnson's favorite event that Benefiting Belong has coordinated was the Halloween party at Highland Park United Methodist Church. The party featured costumes, dancing, music, and food, and Benefiting Belong club members helped set up and run the event.
“The turnout was great and everyone had a good time,” Johnson said.
Twining highlighted that one of the main things Benefiting Belong club has done for the school and community is foster an understanding and respect for people with disabilities.
“[The club] raises awareness of teens and adults with disabilities and it gives high schoolers a chance to come step into the lives of people with disabilities where they can see all the abilities that our participants have,” Twining said.
Though the club is new this year, its name has become known around the school. They host meetings and events that have played a crucial part in spreading the word about Belong Ministry’s mission.
“I don't think many people knew about Belong, and the fact that we now have this club [to support Belong] has been amazing because more people are getting to see another side of HPUMC, and other programs that they might not have known about,” Vaughn said.
As the vice president of the club, Heath's goal in the coming years is to expand and get more people involved throughout both the school and wider community.
“The more the merrier,” Heath said. “[We want] to make it as big as possible and to make it known.”
After starting Benefitting Belong this year, Heath has learned the importance of small acts of kindness. The few hours that volunteers spend with the kids in Belong, can be the best part of the kids’ and the volunteers’ day.
“You can always take time out of your day to make someone else's day a lot better,” Heath said.