Students at South County High need to look no further than their school library for community service opportunities that align with the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate initiative ethical and global citizen. Students can be found knitting hats and scarves to donate to S.O.M.E (So Others Might Eat), an organization dedicated to supporting the homeless and underserved in Washington, D.C.  Librarian Lisa Muir runs Hats for S.O.M.E.; she teaches the students to knit hats and scarves on round looms and donates the items to the clothing closet at S.O.M.E. Muir works with Jodi O’Hern of S.O.M.E. to educate students about the impact of homelessness on the individual, their families, and the community.

Muir started this partnership when she taught at Newington Forest seven years ago and was very excited when her former students remembered participating in the program and asked if they were able to make hats at South County. Muir has written grants to the PTSO for supplies and requested donations of yarn from the community. She has trained students to help new students in the hat-making process. To date, over 80 South County students have donated 62 handmade hats and scarves to S.O.M.E and recorded over 245 hours of community service. South County students are also making pet blankets for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. The library’s newest volunteer opportunity is teaching students how to sew pillowcases on a sewing machine with fellow librarian Emily Strong; the pillowcases will be donated to a local hospital. Contact news liaison Lisa Muir at @email.