EAST LONGMEADOW – Each year a program called Project 351 selects one eighth grade student from each of the 351 towns and cities in Massachusetts who then becomes an ambassador to be trained for future community service leadership. Birchland Park Middle School student Sara Moriarty was chosen for Project 351 by four of her teachers, her guidance counselor and Principal Timothy Allen.

Through her partnership with Project 351, Moriarty has had the opportunity to travel to Boston and Foxborough. Her first trip was in January of this year for “launch day” which was the program’s kick off, giving student ambassadors the opportunity to meet one another while completing acts of service.

“On launch day, all of the ambassadors were transported to the Kennedy Library where we all learned about our service hero teams,” she recalled. “Then all of us were sent to different locations to serve that day. I got to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. School Boston where I painted a portion of two murals, packaged bags filled with fruits and vegetables for FreshTruck and made hot chocolate in mason jars, all for people in need.”

Moriarty’s trip to Foxborough was for Project 351’s “reunion day” at Gillette Stadium. The ambassadors, along with several Project 351 alumni, celebrated the service they had completed thus far, and the service they planned to continue.

“At Gillette, I packaged several bags of mac and cheese that would be provided to those in need of a nice meal. We also decorated many placemats that would be given to children who will attend Christmas in the City later this year,” Moriarty said.

Over the course of the Spring, Project 351 worked with Cradles to Crayons, a non–profit organization that collects children’s clothing, school supplies, toys and more and then distributes the items to children who are in need. In April Moriarty organized a clothing drive at Birchland Park and at Mapleshade Elementary School.

“To get others involved, I sent out a phone call to the household of every student and staff member from both schools. I filmed a short informative video that played on the morning announcements,” she said. “With the help of my team, we hung up flyers around the schools and spread the word through social media accounts.”

After the donations were in, Moriarty held two quality sorts in classrooms to ensure that the clothes were of quality and were ready to be delivered. Following quality control, Moriarty dropped off the clothes to a specific location and they were then shipped off to Cradles to Crayons.

Project 351 ambassadors are gearing up for Fall Service, which includes ambassadors to honor and remember fallen heroes and heroes who are still with us who helped to protect the country on September 11, 2001.

“During Fall Service which will begin this month and end in early September, ambassadors will create cards, collect donations and create care packages to honor this nation’s heroes,” she explained.

Moriarty has enjoyed her time as a Project 351 ambassador, and looks forward to continuing her service to the community.

“My amazing experience with Project 351 has inspired me in ways I can’t even explain. Specifically though, I have been inspired to serve more in as many ways as possible and to hopefully stay close with all of the great people from Project 351 that I’ve worked with so far,” she said. “What an experience it has been!”

To donate to Project 351’s cause or to learn more, go to www.project351.org.