Be The Change
Klein Serves participants volunteer around local community
October 31, 2018
At 5 a.m on a Saturday morning, students who would usually be sleeping in, came out to support their community at the first ever student-led service event, called Klein Serves, an event spearheaded by students and their teacher sponsor.
Over 850 volunteers displayed the Klein 5 values at different locations to devote their time to others, with over 20 volunteer opportunities around the community, logging more than 3,800 hours of service.
Bearkadettes, NHS, and HOSA gathered together to attend the Heart Walk led by the American Heart Association at Lone Star University Park early Saturday morning.
“Today was a chance to go out and be a part of something bigger than myself,” junior Sanjana Jacob said. “Knowing that I’m out here, doing something impactful for the lives of others makes me feel complete.”
Stationed at the tribute stickers, Jacob lifted up others who have lost a loved one due to heart disease.
“My grandfather battled with heart disease, and sadly I never got the chance to meet him, so this is for him and all the other people who have gone through the same thing,” Jacob said.
This campus wide community service event gave everyone the chance to lend a hand and make a difference.
“I love how Klein Serves includes the whole school,” Jacob said. “Everyone has the opportunity to help and really get to know the people around us. It’s a great way to spend your Saturday, instead of sitting around and doing homework.”
Jacob left Saturday with a grateful spirit for the people in her everyday life.
“The community has done so much for not only myself, but also for the other kids here. This is a way to give back to our teachers and the local community to let them know we appreciate them,” Jacob said.
Throughout the day, bus loads of students and adult volunteers left Klein on their way to different locations around the area, some leaving as early as 6 a.m. Volunteer shifts went until 8 p.m. Saturday night.
All around the community, participants volunteered at senior homes, helped set up school carnivals, washed cars, helped a local vet clean up after Hurricane Harvey, and so much more.
Cars streamed into the Klein bus parking lot as members of several sports teams, coaches and trainers washed cars, including a Klein Fire Department fire truck. Donations were made to a canned food drive. Members of Earth Club planted flowers for a butterfly garden in the courtyard. Student Council sponsored a blood drive.
One of the Klein Serves coordinator’s, senior Andreana DeGuzman, achieved her goal of making a difference among the lives of people all around her.
“Having nearly 900 volunteers volunteer 3,847 hours all over our community feels indescribable,” she said. “We had kids and adults that have never volunteered before. There were several kids that asked if they could volunteer at more events. It was truly inspiring.”
Service meant giving back to the community that has supported DeGuzman and her fellow classmates since day one.
“One of my favorite quotes is ‘You can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone,’and I honestly think that’s why people should become involved in service,” DeGuzman said.
HOSA sponsor and teacher in charge of Klein Serves, Kristen Haggard, said she was overwhelmed with pride, joy, and thankfulness at the successful outcome.
“After everyone was gone and the last group was at Brill volunteering, I honestly broke out in tears because I was so proud of how hard the team worked and how successful the day had been,” Haggard said. “To see the smiles on the faces of the volunteers as they came back tired and hungry, but so happy and excited for what they had done, made all of the planning and hard work completely worth it.”
BKTV Coverage of Klein Serves