San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California)
February 14, 2008 Thursday

Youthful hearts of charity

By Daniel Fritz, Staff Writer

Some might say the heart of charity is embodied by two major
characteristics: willingness and selflessness.

Students at Sierra Vista Middle School in Covina have repeatedly
shown these telling signs of a charitable heart through their
constant, good-hearted volunteer work in the Covina community.

Want proof?

In the past two years, a total of 320 Sierra Vista eighth-grade
students have logged about 16,000 hours of community service.

Sheila Edwards, an eighth-grade American history teacher at Sierra
Vista, has certainly helped instill a philanthropic attitude in these
kids. Her curriculum, one which advocates "civic responsibility,"
requires students to log a minimum 10 hours of community service a
year.

There are many opportunities for children to fulfill this requirement
right there at the school.

Three times a year she leads a group of Sierra Vista students to Los
Angeles’ Skid Row to pass out blankets and clothes to the estimated
8,000 homeless people in that area. Their last trip was on Dec. 20,
2007.

Students are also taking part in Cellphones for Soldiers, a donation
program that aims to provide troops overseas with a way to keep in
touch with friends and family.

Now the kids have found yet another way to be of service.

Project Linus, a national nonprofit organization that aims to provide
ill or traumatized children with the comfort and security of new or
handmade blankets, finds demand often outweighing supply.

In early January, a few students saw a newspaper article about the
organization’s blanket shortage and quickly stepped up, suggesting
this be their next community service project.

"We saw the article and thought it would be a good idea to make
blankets for the children," said Reem Aranki, 14. "I like giving back
to the community and children in the hospital to make them feel
better."

They call it the "Blanket Them With Kindness Program."

After students donated $10 each and gathered the necessary materials,
they were ready to go.

On Wednesday, Feb. 6, all five of Edwards’ eighth-grade American
history classes used their period to make as many brightly colored
fleece blankets as possible.

"Doing this makes me feel good because I know I’m helping people,"
said Sofia Klof, 13.

Edwards’ students made a total of 56 blankets at the end of the day.

Project Linus will then distribute the blankets to organizations such
as the Ronald McDonald House, Schlessinger Foundation, the Red Cross
and various hospitals across the country.

Aside from these various service projects within the school, many of
Edwards’ students are active outside of the classroom in their own
community.

Victoria Djabourian, 13, volunteers at the Armenian General
Benevolent Union (AGBU) for 10 hours a week teaching children how to
play basketball and educating them about their personal heritage.

"I wanted to volunteer for something that not many others are
volunteering for," she said.

Edwards said that much of what motivates her students to be active
community advocates revolves around the necessity to stand out from
the masses when considering higher education.

"They use the Presidential Volunteer Service Award to set them apart
when it’s time to go to college," Edwards said.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award program was created in 2003
"as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated
commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer
service," according to the program’s Web site.

To receive the award, volunteers must complete 100 hours of community
service within the year.

In Edwards’ nine years as a teacher at Sierra Vista, about 482
students have received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She
estimates that between 60 and 100 will be awarded at the end of this
year.