NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue
May 23, 2015 Walnut, CA 91789
Contact:
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204
Small hands making a difference
Students bring lunches to Habitat for Humanity volunteers
WALNUT, CA— C.J. Morris Elementary third graders did their part to help make a home for a U.S. veteran.
The youngsters served lunch to 20 volunteers at the Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity construction site in Walnut on May 23.
Six students arrived at their school at 10 a.m. to begin making ham and cheese sandwiches and assemble the lunches during the Memorial weekend project.
Then the group, with teachers and parents, walked over to the construction site at Camino De Rosa, just a few blocks away.
After they delivered the food, the children interviewed and took photos with the helpers from Southern California Gas Company during their break.
Students learned the project started last August and the house is 2,443 square feet.
“It is not a typical Habitat house,” said construction manager Louis Jimenez.
The energy-efficient home is being built for a U.S. veteran who was wounded in combat.
Student Eric Tapia said that he “wanted to do something special to help.”
The multi-family house will be completed sometime in the summer.
The C.J. Morris group also toured the site wearing construction hats, of course.
“Thank you for bringing lunch!” said volunteer Carolyn Chang.
“I was exhausted until I saw these (lunches) and then I started to smile!” exclaimed Jim McInerney.“We really appreciate the support here with the food.”
Teacher Lisa Peterson organized the service project. Last week, the class collected grocery donations and decorated lunch sacks with special messages of encouragement for the volunteers.
“My main goal is that the students will go through life with a giving heart knowing that the world will be a better place because of it,” Peterson said.
One volunteer especially liked a lunch sack decorated with a blue monster truck and a “You are amazing, wonderful, and kind” message.
“I’m going to keep this on my desk at work!” Chang added.
The caring educator she wants her students to “always have hope.”
“At some point in their life, they may be down on their luck or going through difficult times, but always to know there is someone willing to help. Who knows, it may even be a third grader!” Peterson said.
Shown:
C.J. Morris third grader Nicholas DeGuzman chats with volunteer Carolyn Chang during the lunch break at the Habitat for Humanity home in Walnut on May 23.
C.J. Morris Elementary students Erik Tapia, Gabriel Flores, Alicia Hernandez,Daniela Collins, John Kurt Galicia, and Nicholas DeGuzman, brought lunch to volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity home on May 23. They learned more about the project by interviewing the Gas Company volunteers.
Together we can make a difference! C.J. Morris Elementary third graders delivered lunches to Habitat for Humanity volunteers on May 23. Shown with teacher Lisa Peterson.
A Gas Company volunteer shows a lunch sack decorated by a C.J. Morris student at the Habitat for Humanity home in Walnut.