The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
BUILD STRENGTH OF CHARACTER
Students provide community service at Salvation Army to honor Senior Service Day
Lorain High School seniors participated Feb. 20 in Senior Service Day.
This was a chance for the students to give back to their community.
One of the sites where students gave back was the Salvation Army Lorain Corps, 2506 Broadway, where they prepared, served and helped store food.
“I love being able to help out,” said Honesty Gilliam, 19, a senior at Lorain High. “I like to cook as well, so it has been a fun experience preparing some chili for those who need it.”
Kimberly Rivera, 17, also a Lorain High senior, said the event was a fun day for her.
“Helping people is fun,” Rivera said. “This is a good opportunity to help these guys out.
“I’m also having a great time making the meat for this delicious chili.”
Tyshawn Brown, 18, a Lorain High senior, shelved some of the canned goods.
“It’s nice to help out,” Brown said. “I like to volunteer for service like this when I can.”
"It’s nice to help out. I like to volunteer for service like this when I can." — Tyshawn Brown, 18, a Lorain High School senior
Lorain County Community Action Agency and Buckeye Health Plan sponsored Senior Service Day.
Mike Hibbard, a community relations representative with the Buckeye Health Plan, said he’s glad the students had the opportunity
to serve.
“We partner up with the (Lorain County Community) Action Agency and the high school to allow students to have this great opportunity,” Hibbard said. “We have a vision of good overall health for the community, and when you see the students in there laughing and having a good time while they are helping others, that’s what it’s
all about.”
Cheryl Draga, a Lorain High math teacher, said she wishes there were more opportunities like Senior Service Day for students.
“It’s great the students get a chance to come out here and help others,” Draga said. “They are learning how to interact with people in their community and how to serve.
“These are the ‘soft’ skills that future employers and colleges will be looking for on their resumes. It’s nice for students to see what the Salvation Army does for folks in the community and for them to help provide that service.”
Salvation Army Lt. Jimmy Susa said he was glad to bring the students in.
“We appreciate the help,” Susa said. “I hope the students learn a little more about themselves and the skills they have to serve their community.
“They may find they want to help in a similar capacity and that they like to help others. I hope it creates a desire in them to give.”
“It’s great the students get a chance to come out here and help others. They are learning how to interact with people in their community and how to serve.” — Cheryl Draga, a Lorain High School math teacher