For the second consecutive year, the sophomore class volunteered in downtown Amarillo Oct. 25 and 26 at organizations devoted to helping needy people in the area as a part of the English classes’ study of the novel “Same Kind of Different as Me.” 

This volunteer work is a continuation of the project sophomore teachers began last year after students read Ron Hall and Denver Moore’s novel. The class prepared for the trip by sponsoring a canned food drive, during which they brought in hundreds of cans and a warm clothing drive, where they brought in “a mountain of clothing” according to English teacher Heather Hale.

“We continued this project to teach the sophomores about serving others and to open their eyes to certain areas of Amarillo where they can serve,” Hale said. “Really and truly, it’s just a project to teach them how to serve, to teach them how to make a difference in someone’s life.”

Pre-AP students and some English II volunteers began their day at 5 a.m. to serve breakfast at The Salvation Army and Faith City Mission.

“The funny thing was, in every place we visited, the people who worked there were trying to teach the kids about making good choices,” Hale said. “Here we were trying to teach them about service, and they all emphasized good decision making. I think many students saw what happened to those who gave up on their education and realized how important it is.”

Later in the day, the groups worked with the children at The King’s Academy, a program run by CityChurch. The King’s Academy children had a field day where they played games with the volunteers, got their faces painted, and won prizes. Another group of sophomores travelled to the Salvation Army thrift store, sorted through donations, and helped organize clothing and other items.

Even prior to the projects Hale said she believed the school was already very active in the community.

“We have the canned food drives, the blood drives, and a variety of other things, like groups that work with TOMS, Schools for Schools, and the Susan B. Komen Foundation,” Hale said. “The sophomore project is just a way to bring the class together and teach them about their community.”

Hale said it took a large group of people to organize this effort and that they were all very important in helping the sophomores lend a hand.

“A team of teachers and administrators originally organized it, but the then front office had to cover the absences with the teachers, the bus barn had to provide transportation, the students had to be responsible enough with their grades to attend, and the organizations had to be prepared for such a large number of volunteers,” Hale said. “This truly was a community effort.”