Kids Helping Kids
Middle school students donate $800 of holiday cheer to Region 10 Rainbow Room
In December, 25 students from the Socorro Middle School Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program visited the Region 10 CPS Rainbow Room to donate items collected from their school. AVID is an elective class for 7th and 8th graders that helps students achieve their goal of attending college. They often participate in community service as part of their curriculum, and the El Paso Rainbow Room was the fortunate recipient of their hard work this holiday season.
The students hauled in bags and boxes full of items from the Rainbow Room wish list: diapers, baby wipes, bibs, clothing, and Christmas gifts. They had so much to donate that they made several trips and required the assistance of Region 10 Resource/External Relations Specialist Luis Zamarripa to finish the job.
In total, the value of their donations came to over $800 – one of the largest single donations of in-kind goods to the Rainbow Room during 2007.
After a tour of the facility, the students heard from caseworkers representing the different CPS programs about their job responsibilities and average work week. The caseworkers' honest and frank accounts encouraged the students to ask questions, and together they shared an incredible two hours of learning. The AVID advisors treated the kids to pizza afterwards, and they are already planning another trip to the Rainbow Room for the students this spring.
The Socorro Middle School youth are truly an inspiration – wonderful examples not just for their peers, but for everyone.
