In order to spend a day in service, leadership teachers Robert Foshee and Jane Gillespie took their student leadership class out into the community, Sept. 14.
The group took donations for the Fresno Community Food Bank at the CBS47 news station, and laid a cement path at Romain Park, a local recreation area in Fresno.
According to Foshee, the project not only demonstrated service, but encouraged the leadership class to unite and dedicate themselves to a joint duty. Through the tasks, they received glimpses of life beyond FC.
“I am super thrilled to be here with all my students,” Foshee said. “It’s an exciting day because we get to help out around the community. I had the kids come out and do the service projects because I feel it is important to see ‘behind the scenes’ in Fresno so the students can apply themselves in all aspects and be a better, well-rounded student.”
Maria Ayala, who works for the Community Food Bank and specializes in community outreach, feels the outcome of her labors are worth the effort.
“There is a lot of need here in Fresno; that is one of the main reasons I choose to be involved with this type of organization,” Ayala said. “We literally help families put food on their tables; it is a rewarding feeling at the end of the day.”
Though Ayala has worked for the food bank for several years, she continues to find delight in aiding families. As a result of the organization’s efforts, many stories of success have reached her ears.
“A few years ago there was a drought, and farmers were not able to have very successful crop here in the [Central] Valley; from then on some families have struggled,” Ayala said. “It was not only a big impact on the farmers themselves, but also the workers. Because of this, the unemployment rate was really high, so it’s great that we have organizations like this to help out.”
After recognizing needs in her community, Ayala chose to take action by joining the Community Food Bank. Although her work presents difficulties, as any job would, Ayala has gleaned valuable lessons of benevolence.
“I choose to do this job because I was seeing hunger around me that was completely unfair and unnecessary,” Ayala said. “This job is pretty much like any other job; it has its ups and downs. At the end of the day it is important to remember that I am doing it for a greater good of things, and helping people in need is all that really matters.”
After working at the Community Food Bank, students took a bus to Romain Park to assist in laying a new walkway. As the bus arrived to the park, the landscape was dotted with trucks filled with supplies, cement and various tools for the walkway that the students would soon help build.
As the head carpenter for parks, Rudy Bustos has been working for the Fresno community for three years, driven by the ambition to perfect the small details of the city, which will improve its overall look.
“I started doing these type of things for the community when I realized that things that everyday people don’t think of — like pealing paint, broken wood or cracked pavement — go ignored,” Bustos said. “I realized that these little things make the biggest of differences to the community and kids around Fresno.”
Considering the satisfaction he gains through improving the city, Bustos appreciates his opportunity to work with volunteers and observe their contributions to the projects.
“It is always great to leave a mark throughout the city when I work on things,” Bustos said. “I feel proud of what I have done and it’s a good feeling knowing when you have contributed to making this city a better place to live. Me and the guys really appreciate it when students or volunteers come and help us out because we get things done faster and I love watching them work hard for good cause [sic].”
Since the economic downturn, Bustos’s work has experienced a decrease in participation, so volunteer work is appreciated, he says.
“Since the economy has not been doing very well for the past few years, we have less and less men to go around the town and help out,” Bustos said. “I am very grateful for the kids and teens that offer their time to us.
After the work of the day was done, Foshee and Gillespie took their students to Dog House Grill for lunch.
“It was so nice to eat a big lunch after a long day of community service,” Hannah Avila, 14′ said. “I had an awesome experience helping; it was really cool seeing the contrast of our usual day at school, and the people that work when we are studying. I don’t think I will ever look at a cement walkway the same!”
Observing her students’ efforts and work, Gillespie left the project with a positive attitude.
“I was very proud of my students because they worked really hard and put a lot of effort into what they were asked to do,” Gillespie said. “It is a blessing that we are able to serve others.”
For more information about service projects, read the Nov. 5 article, Planeteers support Operation Christmas Child. To watch a short video of the news segment, go to CBS47’s website.
For more news, read the Sept. 16 article, ClovisFest to present family-friendly, local attractions.
