NASHVILLE — Every summer for the past six years Gov. Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee have hosted Tennessee Kids Serve Summer Challenge, which is open to rising kindergarteners through sixth graders throughout the state. To participate, these students must complete community service hours in specific categories as an effort to encourage them to develop a heart for service. The challenge took place this year from June 1 through August 1.
Every student who participated was asked to complete a minimum of two service activities from the provided list. That list includes showing kindness to the elderly, feeding the hungry, caring for children and families in the community, honoring veterans and first responders, serving those who serve, supporting foster children and families, beautifying the neighborhood and random acts of kindness. Each student was required to complete a minimum of two service hours.
Parents completed and submitted a log detailing the service hours to First Lady Lee’s office. Each participating student will receive a certificate from the First Lady, and top participants are invited to a carnival on the grounds of the governor’s mansion to celebrate their achievement and recognition of their service to the state.
This year, there were five students from Cocke County who participated in the challenge and were invited to attend the carnival at the Governor’s mansion. Those students include Tucker Henderson, Sadie Henderson, Avery Adcox, Finley Willis and Alice Tinoco Vandever.
“I found out about the Kids Summer Serve Challenge through a friend, Alexis Willis. Her son, Finley, participated in the challenge last year. My kids enjoy volunteering at our church clothes closet and with any activity involving other kids, so Alexis suggested we check it out,” Lindsay Henderson, the mother of Tucker and Sadie Henderson, said.
“Both my children got to experience the blessing of serving others while clocking nearly 20 hours of community service each. We plan to continue seeking out opportunities for them to serve,” she concluded.
Tucker Henderson is a 10-year-old fifth grader at Parrottsville Elementary School. He enjoys volunteering at Parrottsville Methodist Church’s clothes closet and enjoys baseball. He is the son of Josh and Lindsay Henderson.
Sadie Henderson is a second grader at Parrottsville Elementary School. She enjoys gymnastics and any activity that involves other children. She recently volunteered at the Newport Housing Authority school supply giveaway. She is the daughter of Josh and Lindsay Henderson.
Avery Adcox is a kindergarten student at Parrottsville Elementary School. She is the daughter of Ryan and Anissa Adcox. She enjoys swimming with her best friend Everly Rei, tumbling class, cheetahs and watching the Wild Kratts on PBS Kids.
Finley Willis, who is seven, is the son of Jason and Alexis Willis of Parrottsville. He is a very active homeschooler who enjoys nature and learning new things. If he isn’t holding a book, he probably has a shovel. He’s a very active member of the Knoxville Gem and Mineral Society. He loved all of his volunteer opportunities this summer but was especially fond of reading to the animals in the Paws for Reading program at the Young Williams Animal Shelter.
Alice Jane Tinoco Vandever is a 9-year-old Cosby resident. She moved here with her parents, Joshua Vandever and Jenifer Tinoco, from Reno, Nevada in 2021. She is homeschooled. She is very active in the local community with a variety of activities including dance, karate, theater and swimming. She enjoys helping with the animals on her small farm. She has a desire to care for and help others, whether it be spending time with the younger kids, volunteering for various things, cleaning up after events or witnessing to others about Christ.
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