September 2013
SanTan
FAMILY FUN “An award-winning publication” A publication of the
SanTan Sun News
What’s inside For info on sponsoring the SanTan Family Fun Calendar, email Ads@SanTanSun.com
Pages 2-4 SanTan Family Fun Calendar
Pages 4-8 Gridiron Update
Page 10 The RoboCreepers Seek Sponsors
Page 12 Just 4 Kids Sponsored by City of Chandler Recreation Division
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Volunteering provides teens with tangible and intangible benefits By Alison Stanton
Every other Tuesday, friends Aundrea DeGravina and Shea Van Slyke head to Longfellow Elementary School in Mesa to spend about an hour and a Alejandra a feeling of productivity that also a senior at Hamilton High half with a group of sixth she really cherishes. School, spends time each grade girls. Aundrea and Shea, “Volunteering encourages selflessness month volunteering at the who are seniors at Hamilton and cooperation,” she says. India Association of Phoenix, High School in Chandler, “Learning to work with others in and during basketball season founded the club, which they order to achieve a goal of helping somehe can be found at the YMCA call Longfellow Ladies. one else—like a scared freshmen, a tired coaching third and fourth The two spend time with athlete running against cancer, or a lowgrade competitive basketball. the younger girls doing fun income family struggling to put food on During the past two sumactivities like cupcake the table—can teach you a lot about the mers, Siddharth has put in decorating, painting, more than 90 hours working in kind of person you want to be. There's tea parties and a mini-yoga no way of measuring the true benefits of the Volunteen program at class, while also helping them HAPPY TO HELP: Aundrea volunteering, both for yourself, and for to build character, confidence DeGravina has volunteered Chandler Regional and Mercy everyone around you.” and self-esteem. for numerous organizations Gilbert medical centers, where over the past few years, Mindy Elias, branch executive of the he worked at the front desk “This project is very including helping out at Boys & Girls Club Compadre Branch in and guided hospital visitors involved, as it is us two church festivals, packing Chandler, says she also enjoys seeing how and patients to their desired planning the logistics; food boxes for Feed My the dozen or so teenagers who take part locations. however, we feel that this Starving Children, and “The best part of volunteering in the club’s Leaders in Training program project is rewarding, and handing out backpacks and clothing for Operation is of course the satiseach summer grow as people. seeing these girls blossom Back to School for the “They definitely mature a faction, but I think into their tween years is a CUSD. She says she feels lot from the beginning of the the exposure that volfeeling that can’t be strongly that everybody summer to the end,” she says. unteering gives an described,” says Aundrea, 17. should do what they can “They often make comAundrea and Shea are two to make the Earth a better individual is really ments like ‘I didn’t realize how underrated,” of many teens in the Chandler place. Submitted photo much work you guys do here,’ Siddharth says, area who regularly devote or ‘I couldn’t believe how time to volunteering. In addition to going adding that for him, volunteerexhausted I was at the end of ing is something he truly enjoys, to school, doing their homework and the day.’ The teenagers are and is not merely an activity to hanging out with friends and family, learning responsibility and add to his college resume. teenagers are finding out that helping that is something they will “Working with the elderly, others is an extremely rewarding experichildren, people of different ence that helps them to grow as people. LEARNING BY VOLUNTEER- keep with them throughout their entire lives.” ethnicities, and people in need ING: Shea Van Slyke says During her high school career that volunteering is one of Like Shea, Siddharth and Aundrea has volunteered for many differ- has definitely enhanced my the most rewarding ways to Alejandra, Aundrea says she communication skills. Now I give back. She especially ent organizations, including her church, the Salvation Army, and Chandler Flower am no longer afraid to talk to enjoys meeting the people definitely enjoys the time she anyone, and volunteering at a she is helping, and the way spends volunteering. Girls, which is a part of the Chandler “We were all put on this variety of places has taught me that donating her time can Service Club. broaden her perspective on Earth, and we should leave it how to deal with all kinds of “Through the Flower Girls organizalife. Submitted photo better than when we entered people.” tion, I was able to participate in events Stacey Cunningham, a guidance coun- it—that is my motto,” she says. like Operation Back to School for the “Seeing the smiling faces is why I volselor at Basha High School and sponsor CUSD,” she says, adding that she thorunteer, the great feeling of giving back to of the Leo Club, the school’s serviceoughly enjoyed handing out backpacks the community is something that you based club for students, regularly works and clothing items to children. cannot describe with words—it is only a with students who volunteer their time “I even had the opportunity to take a feeling you can get through volunteering.” to do community service projects like child school shopping at Target. We were given $150, a list of needed supplies, and food drives. She sees first-hand how volAlison Stanton is a freelance writer who unteering and helping others increases buddy to shop with. It was fun to take lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at the students’ awareness of the needs of these kids shopping while helping them Alison@SanTanSun.com. the community. at the same time.” “It also helps students to appreciate Shea, 17, who has also volunteered what they have and to develop compaswith the Chandler Flower Girls project, regularly donates her time working at the sion for others who are less fortunate,” she says. Broadway Corridor Community Center, Resources Alejandra Charcas, 17, is vice presiwhere she helps with child care, planBooks: dent of the Leo Club. The high school ning a community party, and helping in • “Giving Back: Discover Your Values and Put senior spends an average of 13 hours a the center’s store. Them Into Action Through Volunteering and month volunteering, including teaching In addition to having the opportunity Donating,” by Steven P. Ketchpel Ph.D. to give back to her community, Shea says a religious education class at her church, • “Catch the Spirit: Teen Volunteers Tell How They tutoring underclassmen, and working at that volunteering also helps her to learn Made a Difference,” by Susan K. Perry, (Author) her school’s freshmen orientation, which and expand her horizons. • “Volunteering: The Ultimate Teen Guide (It “The world is so much bigger than my she says she especially enjoys. Happened to Me),” by Kathlyn Gay “On the day of orientation, we receive own, and volunteering has broadened a group of freshmen and we take them my perspective. I'd encourage people to Websites: around the school, show them where get involved in volunteering, because • helpguide.org/life/volunteer_opportunities_ their classes will be, where the buildings when you invest the time, it is always benefits_volunteering.htm and bathrooms are, and answer their worth it." • clubzona.org/character-leadership-development/ questions about high school,” she says. Siddharth Mehta, 16, also has a very • http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/jobs/ Spending time volunteering gives full volunteer plate. Siddharth, who is volunteering.html