Seven civic-minded kids recognized by city for outstanding community service

(L-R): Carson Davis, Colin Amison, Alex Itzkovitz, Maya Itzkovitz, Ella Friedman,

Evie Morgan Price and Isabelle Price recognized by city for community service

Photo provided by Marisa Getter 

Seven civic-minded children from the Apalachicola community were recognized by the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners at their regular monthly meeting held Tuesday night for providing outstanding community service.

The children all students at the Apalachicola Bay Charter School were part of the contestants and volunteers that took part in the 5th Annual Oyster Cook-off held Feb. 17 to raise funds to benefit the Apalachicola All-Volunteer Fire Department.

The children Carson Davis, Colin Amison, Alex Itzkovitz, Maya Itzkovitz, Ella Friedman, Evie Morgan Price and Isabella Price all sacrificed a beautiful weekend during the cook-off that could have been spent enjoying fun kid things with friends. Instead they volunteered their time to man a lemonade stand and sold enough lemonade to raise $525 to help pay for much-needed equipment for the volunteer fire department.

Because of their ages, desires and shared effort to affect positive change within their community through the act of volunteerism, they were nominated by Volunteer Franklin to receive the special recognition before the city commission along with certificates of appreciations. Volunteer Franklin is a committee under the umbrella of Franklin's Promise Coalition, Inc., and an initiative of Joe Taylor, the executive director of the Coalition.

"We are working together to promote volunteerism as a powerful force toward positive change, both for those who volunteer and for the broader community", said Taylor.

Also receiving a certificate of appreciation and special recognition at the meeting was Marisa Getter, whose vision it was to create the Annual Oyster Cook-off, which has grown in size to help meet the fire protection needs of the Apalachicola community.