Waterloo East High School iJAG Students Adopt a Family
December 2011 - iJAG students often times know personally the barriers families face during the holiday season. This makes them even more determined to give the perfect Christmas to those family with significant struggles. Waterloo East High School Students coordinated the adoption of an in-need family; the family consists of a single mom, an 11 ½ year old boy, a 10 year old girl and an 8 year old girl. The mom provided a “Christmas Wish List” to the East High School At-Risk Facilitator. The list was comprised almost entirely of the “basics” such as coats, boots, gloves, school clothes, pajamas, socks, food and household supplies. Mom asked for nothing for herself, but only wanted her children to have a nice Christmas.
Information about the family’s needs were shared with iJAG students. They, in turn, shared the information with family, friends and staff. As a result many, many donations were made to the family. Most of the items on the listed were either given to the family or were purchased with money that was donated. The children received new winter coats, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, pajamas, fleeces and socks. The family received many cans and boxed foods, personal care items, and household cleaning supplies. In addition, the children received many “extras” that were not on the list.
One “special extended family” donated $450 in cash. One “special individual and her husband” gave the family a $100 gift card to Kohl’s, a $100 gift card to Hy-Vee, hand-made “no-sew” blankets (for each child) and a hand-made quilt (for mom). A “special” East High teacher provided a Christmas dinner with ham and all the trimmings. Numerous “special East High students and staff” donated money, food and other gift items.
The children also received some Christmas candy, but honoring mom’s wishes, “not too much”. Even though mom asked for nothing for herself, she was given a gift basket of soaps and lotions, a locket, a bracelet, a gift certificate for a shampoo and style, a candle, a jewelry box and some candy.
The mom was very emotional and appreciative of all the gifts and donations. She repeatedly cried when items were delivered to her home. She said that without the iJAG students and the East High School community, her children would not have had any Christmas. This was an event that the family and iJAG students will remember for the rest of their lives.
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Service Learning is a critical part of the iJAG curriculum. All iJAG students participate in a minimum of 15 hours each year. Since the inception of the iJAG program in 1999, iJAG students have contributed over 56,000 hours of service in their local communities. If calculated at today's minimum wage rate, this contribution represents a monetary value of nearly $410,000 invested in Iowa's communities.
Student involvement in Service Learning projects allows the students to give back to their community as they demonstrate skills that will be utilized after graduation:
- Leadership skills
- Teamwork skills
- Communication skills
Throughout the school year, iJAG students plan fundraisers for organizations, volunteer at nursing homes, food kitchens and in community cleanup projects.
A partnership between local business, civic leaders and schools allow students to experience real world situations and creates a deeper understanding of career paths within the community. This type of collaboration supports student success which improves graduation rates and betters the local economy.
