The Community Service Club at Harriet Bishop Elementary in Savage, founded by current fifth-grader Shrey Pothini in 2012, has been such a success that Pothini has received a $25,000 grant to expand the club to other district schools.

Pothini started the club because he believes "students shouldn't have to wait for junior high or high school to do service," he said in a statement.

The grant, given by State Farm, was presented to Pothini and the club on Thursday, Oct. 2 at a ceremony in the school gym.

The club has been a hit with students -- last year's club had 90 members -- and completed many community service projects.

As a result, last year Pothini set a goal of eventually expanding it to all nine district elementary schools. The grant money will help with that, allowing each club to buy supplies and pay for other expenses as they get off the ground.

Members meet twice a month to learn about a local nonprofit, then plan a project to help that organization.

During the 2013-14 school year, the club completed many projects, including collecting and sending educational supplies to schools in Guatemala, writing 250 cards to military service members who were injured, organizing a hair donation project to create wigs for cancer patients and making 100 fleece blankets for the Minnesota Animal Humane Society.

Pothini's mom, Seema Pothini, helped him write the grant. The club also received the 2014 Lt. Governor's Red Wagon Award last spring for its members' commitment to civic engagement and community leadership.