BrownwoodNews – It’s the season for stuffing, frosting, and giving. Five students in the Brownwood High School Transitional Life Skills class did just that, volunteering at Good Samaritan Ministries (GSM) and filling Christmas Boxes.
The Transitional Life Skills class is a high school program designed for special need students who are preparing for life beyond school. A life skills class prepares the student for work placement, social interaction and personal care by incorporating functional, adaptive and social skills into the school curriculum.
Each Christmas Box consisted of the makings for an entire holiday meal—from green beans, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, stuffing mix, to cake mix, frosting, canned fruit, and more. Each student attended to a different packing station in an assembly-line fashion, while another student pushed carts filled with supplies among the stations to distribute items.
By the end of the day, the class had packed over twenty-five boxes to aid with Good Samaritan Ministries’ annual campaign. “We had two students help quality-check each completed box for the correct number of items placed in each box,” said Rick Miller, the BHS Life Skills teacher.
“This (assembly line) skill directly relates to some of Brownwood’s largest employers. Each of the students enjoyed this activity so much I think they will be more willing to volunteer in the future.”
Every December, Good Samaritan Ministries offers Christmas Boxes to local families in the community. The boxes contain approximately fifty dollars’ worth of food and GSM expects to serve 1,100 families this year.
“Each student really liked the fact that people in need were going to enjoy getting the box of food,” said Miller. “One student stated it makes him feel good helping others. When asked if they wanted to go back and work there again, all said yes.”
Miller and his associate, Tim Stegemoller, the Vocational Teacher at BHS, set up the experience to purposefully provide their students with applicable, hands-on lessons. Not only do they gain the experience of coordinating with others, double-checking packing lists, and ensuring quality in products, they saw tangible evidence of influencing another person’s life for the better.
“Volunteering with organizations that help or assist others is an important aspect in each person’s life,” said Miller. “It broadens each student’s horizons and makes them a more well-rounded individual. I also wanted the students to always be ready to step in to help others when needed.”
Once the Christmas Boxes were assembled, the class broke down the original packaging in preparation for recycling. From start to finish, the class saw a day of value added to their community. “They did an excellent job working together creating these boxes,” said Leesa Stephens, Executive Director for Good Samaritan Ministries.
“These students were a valuable help and I am excited for their service today and in the future.” The unique experience aided in the goal that Brownwood ISD has as a district of choice—developing productive citizens who exhibit strong moral character.
While the community offers multiple opportunities for service and generosity during this season, Stegemoller and Miller brought these teenagers to the front lines for aiding local needs. The Life Skills class will return to GSM on December 14th to continue the effort and pack more boxes.
As Miller said of the day, “Our students will be able to see the value in giving of themselves to a cause that honors families and individuals with dignity and kindness.”
