CSSJ is not new to community service. We love giving back to our community, it’s in the name! We have an upcoming community service event called the Toy Drive. I interviewed one of CSSJ’s many lovely social workers, Sherry-Ann Jenkins. She had much to say on this topic. The toy drive is when we collect new and gently used toys from students and faculty to donate to an organization called Room to Grow. Our freshmen are going there on February 12th to assist Room to Grow in organizing whatever they need help with such as clothes, food, or supplies. They then spread it out to families who need assistance. This isn’t our first time doing the toy drive. We’ve done it about 2 years ago at its Manhattan location but they recently opened up a new location near CSSJ and we’re doing it again!
There are no requirements for what you can bring as long as it’s gently used and not dirty, so children can play it. Sherry-Ann says bring whatever you can. We believe that it’s fundamental for students to learn how meaningful and important it is to give back, hence the name Community School for Social Justice. Giving back is just something that makes students feel good because they know that their efforts are going towards something worthwhile.
Sherry-Ann says to interested students this, “Just do it. Find somebody else that is interested in the same—in giving back as you and you know, give back. It’s basically one of the best feelings in the world, being able to help another person. It makes you feel good to help other people.” There’s also a quote that Sherry-Ann loves by Muhammad Ali. “Service is the rent we pay for living on this earth.”
9th graders volunteered this time, but that’s not all. Seniors will be volunteering next month. And of course, other grades will follow. We also have a student here, Taylor, who volunteers on her own outside of the school and donates all the time. I, myself, used to volunteer at a nursing home with dementia residents on the weekend and it was a heartwarming experience. To give them joy and youthfulness that they might not regularly get in otherwise a dull, drab building like that. I used to paint their nails, make bracelets with them, and listen to stories of their youth.
On that note, Sherry-Ann has been looking into volunteering at a nursing home near the school. We really love Room to Grow and just giving back to our community and hope that this article may inspire other students to also give back and find joy in it.
