GIVING'S LIFE LESSONS- Northwest students learning importance of volunteering

Posted: Sunday, December 11, 2016 11:39 pm

By Robert Pore

 

The Christmas season is a time of cheer and merriment as families get together, exchange gifts, share meals and give thanks. But for many in Grand Island, poverty shadows their glee, especially for the younger members of society.

Some Northwest High School students are learning about serving the community by bringing Christmas cheer to those in need.

 

Last week, students in the school’s SkillsUSA program gathered with adviser Scott Gibson at the north Wal-Mart to buy gifts for their family through the Heartland United Way’s Adopt-a-Family program.

Gibson said adopting a family gives the students “a chance to see how these organizations give back to the community.”

 

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and students preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations. SkillsUSA was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

The Adopt-a-Family program allows businesses, community members and organizations to provide local families with food, necessity items and gifts during the holidays.

 

“We do this every year,” said senior Trevor Holcomb, SkillsUSA chapter president. “This is us giving back to the community a little bit.”

 

He said the SkillsUSA chapter has fundraisers during the year to pay for Christmas presents for its adopted family. Wal-Mart also contributes to the youths’ shopping spree.

Between the money the students raised and Wal-Mart’s contribution, they had about $500 to spend on their adopted family.

 

Holcomb said he has participated in helping families during the holidays for four years as a SkillsUSA member.

“It is nice giving back to the community,” he said. “It really helps people.”

 

Holcomb said it also strengthens the bonds between SkillsUSA members as they participate in community-based programs.

The students will also participate in the United Way’s Toys for Tots program by taking toys to Fonner Park, where families will come to select gifts for their children.

“It is nice to get in touch with some of the younger members,” Holcomb said. “We all come together and work for a good cause and help out a family.”

 

Sophomore Ethan McVickers is in his first year participating in SkillsUSA and shopping for the Adopt-a-Family program.

“It looked like fun, and I thought it would be a good choice for me to do it,” McVickers said. “It is important to help out as many people as you can.”

 

Sophomore Paige Baird said participating in the Adopt-a-Family program was an opportunity to “make people happy who deserve it. It is a great experience.”

Another sophomore, Malec Quandt, said he was there to “give back to the community and to the people in need.”

 

This was also Quandt’s first time participating in the Adopt-a-Family program.

“It is about learning how to help people,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”

 

Cammie Benson, Heartland United Way public relations and volunteer coordinator, said Northwest students have been helping for several years with the Adopt-a-Family and Toys for Tots programs.

“They are a big help,” Benson said. “There is not enough time in the day for us to do everything that we need to accomplish, and they are just great in helping us and making Toys for Tots go off without a hitch. They are very important to the Toys for Tots program. We really appreciate it.”