“Care by Community” Benefits Students and Recipients Alike
January 11, 2016
In 2007, teachers were searching for a way to assist students in fulfilling their community service requirements and make a lasting mark on the local community, when Mrs. Comer initiated Care by Community.
Care by Community is a program designated to helping students identify and lessen persistent homelessness and hunger starting in the local community by volunteering with schoolaged children in these circumstances. Every Monday, 25 to 35 students volunteer their time and effort to the 35 children of Cooke Elementary and Virginia Beach Middle school. The volunteers are in a one-on-one setting with the child for about 2 to 3 hours, and it allows for bonds to form and for the students to become, in a sense, mentors. They feed them, tutor them, and play games with them.
Mrs. Comer speaks adamantly about helping students to make connections and to get involved. Aleyna Caras, academy student, states, “I feel very joyful to be able to spread even more joy to young kids by providing them with food, sometimes food with goodie bags to take home and school supplies, and just spending time with them is great.” Little things that some people wouldn’t think twice of are what seem to bring the kids jubilance and comfort.
Alec Turenkov states, “I feel like I helped the kid understand his work and by playing with the kids I gave them joy.” The volunteers take pride in the fact that they are the ones to bring joy to the children, especially in the holiday season when so many people are forced to recognize what they lack.
Sydney Odango states, “I absolutely loved it! It was fun to work together as a team to give the children a fun night before Christmas.” Mrs. Gisele Falls, Spanish teacher, volunteers alongside her Spanish Honor Society students. They bring meals for the children and also tutor them. Falls states, “We [academy students] get more out of it then the kids, I believe.”
Falls continues, stating, “The best experience was the last time I went. I make brownies alot and I made them and sent them with the group.” She then discussed a boy’s gratitude and how, although it was just one brownie, he took it home and shared with his 5 other family members. She states, “It touched me in such a way.”
Anecdotes such as these attest to Mrs. Comer’s humbling long-term goal. She states, “At least I can help students make a local connection and put a face to homeless.”
Care by Community not only teaches morality and empathy, but it proves itself very efficient in skill building. It teaches work ethic and allows for the application of problem solving skills. Mrs. Falls believes it to be“great for leadership.” These leaders are implementing the first step to solving hunger and homelessness. Mrs.Comer’s initiative, other teachers’ participation, and the students’ drive and desire is what the program thrives on and what the world needs more of.
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Care by Community
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