Braintree Ambassador to Gov. Patrick's Project 351 Speaks at Cradles to Crayons Event

, Braintree's Project 351 Ambassador, was recently selected for her leadership skills to speak about her volunteerism experience at a Cradles to Crayons event in Brighton.

Sarah, who just finished eighth grade at , was among 351 Massachusetts students chosen this past winter to participte in a statewide volunteer program created by Gov. Deval Patrick. After meeting with Patrick at the State House on a Saturday in January, Sarah and the rest of the student ambassadors fanned out across Boston to service sites including Cradles to Crayons, The Boys and Girls Club, The Greater Boston Food Bank, and the Martin Luther King Towers.

At the recent Cradles to Crayons event, Boston School Superintendent Carol Johnson, along with superintendents from Cambridge and Somerville were in attendance. East Principal John Sheehan, Superintendent Dr. Peter Kurzberg and other volunteers went as well.

"We are all very proud of [Sarah]," Kurzberg said in an email. "She will do a great job continuing with her volunteer initiatives as she moves on to Braintree High School."

Sarah was already familiar with community service prior to Project 351, having served on the Student Council at  since the sixth grade. As part of her service, Sarah has helped to organize canned food drives and coat drives for the needy and is a member of the Soldier Support Group, which sends letters and packages to soldiers serving oversees.

When asked about her motivations in an interview earlier this year, Sarah shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "Why does anyone do what they do?" She finally said, “It feels good to know that you’re helping someone.”

Patch writer Cathy Kenny contributed reporting.