AVID Gives Back
By Brandi Dodd
Every year, Crockett AVID classes find a way to give back to their community by introducing the Spirit of Giving project. Not only does this project help the local community, but it also helps students by encouraging them to get volunteer hours for their college applications and resumes.
Minor adjustments had to be made to this year’s Spirit of Giving project due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the overall message behind it remained the same.
AVID teacher Kelsey Ogg stated this project has many benefits personally and spiritually.
“‘Spirit of Giving’ will focus on the gift of time, compassion, and effort to make this world a better place not only for someone else but also for yourself. Realize your capacity to change the world around you and affect others through your good work,” said AVID teacher Kelsey Ogg.
Some of the organizations that AVID students worked with this year included the Austin Food Bank and Keep Austin Beautful. Here are there experiences:
Austin Food Bank
The Austin Food Bank is a central Texas Charity aimed at helping to relieve hunger within Austin homes. The Austin Food Bank works with about 260 Partner Agencies and offers a variety of volunteer opportunities such as the Mobile Food Pantry, Warehouse positions, and the Community Kitchen. Minors require an adult to volunteer with them.
For more information visit: https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/
Student Experiences:
Inca Kritselis:
Junior Inca Kritselis volunteered at the Austin Food Bank alongside her dad, sorting and supplying food into care boxes. Despite a few nervous feelings and a bit of uncertainty, her volunteer shift ended with her feeling good and accomplished.
“I learned that the food bank wasn’t really all that scary. In reality, it was just another job. I’m definitely planning on volunteering again,” said Kritselis.
Jellil Gutierrez:
Junior Jellil Gutierrez also volunteered at the Austin Food Bank warehouse.
He had previously volunteered at the warehouse and said he had felt comfortable all throughout his experience.
Gutierrez ended his shift by saying “I somewhat had fun organizing the food into boxes. One thing I learned from this experience was how to tell between expired food and good food.”
Keep Austin Beautiful
Keep Austin Beautiful is a non-profit organization aimed at maintaining a clean community and environment. This organization offers resources and volunteer opportunities for people who want to help beautify the city of Austin. Keep Austin Beautiful also has a number of educational programs in order to teach students how to properly care for their surroundings.
For more information visit: https://keepaustinbeautiful.org/
Student Experiences: Zilker Park Trash Pick Up
Juniors Klyrissa Porter, Itza Balderas, Lizbeth Sierra, Leo Carbajal, Leslie Abrego, Alexsandra Garza, and Dali Gayton, joined together to spend 5 hours at Zilker park picking up trash.
Porter explained that this project was important to her because she “wanted to help remind Austinites what it felt like to take pride in our community.”
The group faced some scheduling troubles in the beginning, but they stayed optimistic.
“I knew, in the end, it would all work out and we could pick up trash and help our community to make the world a better place,” said Balderas.
The group walked about five miles, and despite some tiredness, they said they ended the project with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for giving back to their local community.
According to multiple group members, this volunteer option is fun for friends and a great way to get outside during crucial times.
One thing Porter learned during this experience was “it takes a lot of time and patience to achieve your goals, and at the end of it, it’s worth so much.”
Group members Itza Balderas and Lizbeth Sierra said they highly recommend this project to others.
“Picking up trash can beautify our environment as well as clean up areas that could affect the creatures living there,” said Sierra.
For more information on this group’s Spirit of Giving project, check out their student presentation at https://tinyurl.com/yasdy93o or click on the icon below :
Other Volunteer Options:
- Cook For the Homeless: https://sunriseaustin.org/homelessness/volunteer
Pick up a pan of donated ingredients to take home, cook up, and bring back to be served to the local homeless people. Family-friendly (no age restrictions).
Deliver fresh meals to senior citizens and homebound clients.
- Austin Avance: http://avanceaustin.org/support-us/volunteering/
A non-profit organization aimed at helping low-income families in a variety of ways in a judgment-free environment.
- The Volunteer Center: http://www.volrock.org/need/index/12
Provides a number of volunteer opportunities connected to one site based on current needs in your community, ranging in interests and organizations.
