The 'Eagle Times' Student Newspaper: Features

Junior high contributes to Meals on Wheels

Students spread holiday cheer

By Trent Strunk

January 28, 2007

For 20 select junior high students, they gave more than just gifts this holiday season. The student body's ideal models were the first class selected to help with the Meals on Wheels program first semester.

To be able to participate, the students had to meet five criteria: they had to be nominated by a teacher for outstanding performance and leadership in the classroom; no ALTs for the month in which they were selected; no class disruptions; no tardies; and no discipline points.

The following students met those qualifications first semester: Jennifer Rosebaugh, Chelsea Roth, Travis Brown, Nick Boyden, Jeremy Brent, Collin Strobel, Shaley Epperson, Randi Billings, Kaily Tibbits, Kylie Bledsoe, Ashlee Cairns, Jamie Lockwood, Kaitlin Dallman, Garrett Kern, Dylan Wichman, Cooper Rickel, Jake Maryott, Jeff Rosebaugh, Dawson Saia and Riley Oblander.

These students helped deliver meals to the senior citizens of Silver Lake over a series of days, and for an added touch of holiday cheer, they made candy cane reindeer for them also.

Karen Darting, related study skills teacher, said that they came up with the idea by just talking and sharing ideas with people at the Senior Citizen Center.

"We began throwing the idea around and we began developing it with the help from the Senior Citizen Center and we were able to put together the program," she said.

Oblander said that his favorite part of the entire arrangement was just seeing their faces.

"The best part was just seeing how the people smiled when they opened the door," he said.

Epperson also believed that she made the senior citizens happy by bringing them meals.

"I think I made them happy because they get to see other people during the day," she said.

And other students like Jennifer Rosebaugh said that she learned that even the simplest acts can help people.

"I learned that I can help people by just [delivering] them food," she said.

The program wasn't just a one time deal. Darting said they are planning to help the Meals on Wheels program every semester, which is good for the students who want to help their community.

Last semester the students not only learned more about themselves, but they also learned that community service can be fun and rewarding. Saia said he would do it again because he would like to talk to his elders more.

"I would (deliver Meals on Wheels again) so they could see me more and get to know me more so I could get to see and know them more, too," he said.