LeRette earns President’s Volunteer Service Award

Joshua LeRette, a sixth-grade student at Red Oak Middle School has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

The award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their community.

The award LeRette earned was granted by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

“The recipients of these awards demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John Strangefeld, chairperson and CEO of Prudential Financial.

The project for which LeRette was recognized was his contribution to the Christ’s Cupboard Community Food Pantry.

Over the past two summers, LeRette raised $4887.30 for the food pantry. He did this by having a lemonade stand. He also incorporated an apple pie auction and a bake sale into his lemonade stand.

LeRette operated on free-will donations with 100 percent of his proceeds going toward his food pantry donation.

In order not to interfere with his classes, LeRette operated his lemonade stand from the time school got out in the spring until school was back in session in the fall. Additionally, LeRette didn’t have set hours of operation. He opened a pop-up stand at various times and locations and stay as long as his schedule allowed and while he continued to have custumers.

As a ROMS student, LeRette is involved in many extracurricular activities in the Red Oak School District. He is also involved with the Wilson Performing Arts Center, YMCA and many sports activities. LeRette is also a member of the Grant Spitfires 4H club and a member of the Elliott Church of Christ.

LeRette is the son of Brian and Dawn LeRette of Red Oak and the grandson of Doug and Marla Turner of Elliott and Dick and Marcia LeRette of Red Oak.