THE REDMON and Lee Community Center provides a wide range of activities designed to help young people realize their full potential and be successful.

Those efforts are further enhanced by a strong emphasis on teaching the value of community service -- and that may be the most important lesson of all.

The staff at the center is commended for bringing this dimension to its programs and reinforcing principles that will serve these young people well throughout their lives.

Service to others is a common thread that runs throughout the center's after-school and summer enrichment programs, and was clearly evident during the recent flood-fighting efforts.

Young people in the summer enrichment program spent part of last month helping fill sandbags at the Oakley-Lindsay Center.

Crystal Young, the center's executive director, said community service is a well-established part of the school's programs.

In addition to participating in academics, arts and recreation activities, youngsters have conducted neighborhood cleanup days or helped with a community garden.

"We want them to take pride in what they have. We tell them if you take care of the community, it will take care of you," Young said.

Young said the hands-on activities make a greater impression on the children than any lecture.

In the flurry of activity at the sandbagging center, the children saw hundreds of other people pitching in to battle the flood.

The youngsters learned that most of those volunteering their time did not have homes or property in flood-prone areas. They got involved to help this community, this region and their neighbors.

Students have said the community service efforts are interesting and fun.

At a young age, then, they already are discovering the joy of helping others.

It is a worthy lesson for us all, regardless of age.