Rogers Park Middle School Students Participate in Community Outreach

Despite bitter cold temperatures and bone-chilling winds, students from Rogers Park Middle School took their places outside on a January morning to help hundreds of people stock up on groceries from the Connecticut Food Bank.

For several years, Rogers Park has encouraged its students to participate in community outreach and helping those in need fill their shopping bags with fresh produce and other goods is part of that effort.

Rogers Park eighth graders Joel Martinez and Mackenzie Valdiviezo braved the cold for more than an hour in the parking lot of the New Hope Baptist Church in Danbury to take their part by doling out staples such as butternut squash, lettuce and cottage cheese. Once a month, half a dozen students from the Danbury middle school help out with other community volunteers.

“It helps people,” said Joel about why he volunteers. “It’s good for me. We learn team work. I never knew how many people needed help.”

Saying hello and conversing with the customers came naturally to all the Rogers Park students and the people who came for groceries loved interfacing with the teens.

“I like helping other people. We get to meet other people and no one has to starve,” Mackenzie said. “It’s an act of kindness. If we don’t help other, it’s rude.”

Student Abdel Razeq, also in eighth grade, agreed.

“It’s important to show that we can help and we are here for them no matter what,” he said.

His participation in the volunteer work has encouraged him to incorporate community work into whatever career he chooses.

Sonia Rivera, a guidance counselor at the school, said the students enjoy the opportunity to help others.

“The people at New Hope say that our kids are a great help and the hands are needed and they are always pleasant and polite,” Rivera said in a press release. “The students not only help handing out food but they also help people carry the food to their cars. Usually on the ride back to school, the kids reflect on how many people come to the food bank and are in need of the food. I believe that the experience humbles them a little bit and they see how fortunate they are.”

Images courtesy Danbury BOE
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