By Sayellor Taylor-Blackstone

   “I enjoy it because I feel accomplished and like I’m actually making a difference,” says sophomore Alyssa Grapevine.

   Volunteering is a requirement of Tempe Prep for many grades, and through dedicated research Alyssa has found her passion for service within the community.

   Every Saturday morning, she donates hours of her time to a local organization called Keep Tempe Beautiful. KTB’s mission is to reduce the waste in parks and other areas throughout Tempe. With all equipment supplied, volunteers can show up to any scheduled event with a positive attitude ready to assist the beautification of the community. 

   Having been a loyal volunteer for two years now, Alyssa highly recommends this organization to anyone interested in bettering themselves and their environment. She comments that it is “very engaging and overall fun.”

   There is always more work to be done in making sure Tempe stays clean and healthy for its inhabitants and Alyssa adds that when picking up, “you realize that there (is) so much.” She is able to pick up multiple buckets of garbage during the three-hour time slot.

   What’s more, this organization has a really simple process of discovering its next project. By going to the Keep Tempe Beautiful website, you can find dates, times and locations of the next meetings and even sign up for their weekly emails, which include condensed information about the next available volunteer opportunities.

   Alyssa “definitely would recommend it;” so if you have been searching for ways to involve yourself in the community, consider KTB.