[SCVi] – More than three dozen students from iLEAD’s founding school, the Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School, volunteered this month to prepare and serve hot meals to the homeless at the SCV Emergency Winter Shelter.

The sixth- and eighth-grade learners started from scratch, too.

Maddy Sands

“They did the meal planning, they did the fundraising, they did the prep work, they did the cooking and they did the serving,” said Sara Brown, community outreach coordinator for SCVi Charter School, iLEAD’s founding school (www.ileadschools.org). “I’m so proud of the initiative and compassion these students displayed.”

Forty-two students volunteered for the project, in which they also gathered for group discussions about the issue of homelessness and the importance of nutrition and healthy foods. They raised funds to purchase the food, then did the prep work and cooking at the kitchen in the café on SCVi’s Hasley Canyon Road campus.

They’ve served two nutritious, hot meals to the SCV’s homeless, most recently a meal headlined by homemade shepherd’s pie on Thursday, March 5. The meals were served at the emergency winter shelter operated by Bridge to Home (http://www.btohome.com), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing transformation, healing, hope and compassion for the SCV’s homeless.

Back, from left: Abby Blasberg, Sara Brown, Kim Shaw, Ally O’Neill, Baylee Lesh, Lauren Murherjee. Front from left: Luke Rigdon, Maddy Sands, Kenya Jones, Paige Kent.

The students said they were struck by the gratitude expressed by those staying at the shelter, and the experienced made them appreciate what they have.

“It reminded me that I shouldn’t take anything for granted,” sixth-grade student Aaron Andrews said, adding that he noticed those staying at the shelter seemed to sincerely appreciate the meal. “They smiled and had good manners, like saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’”

His sister, eighth grader Lexi Andrews, echoed the sentiment. “It made me realize how fortunate I am. The people at the shelter were so nice, and grateful.”

Heeli Lounibos, an eighth-grade volunteer, said it was an adventure getting the meals prepared, particularly in such large quantities. “The kitchen, it can be hectic, but it’s fun because of the cause.”

In her second year volunteering for the project, Kailey Spiteri said she noticed “there were a lot more people there this year.”

“There were a lot of smiles,” eighth grader Morelia Robles said, “and they were really grateful.”

Aubrey Love, Abby Blasberg, Maddy Sands, Baylee Lesh

Brown said the learners’ fundraising efforts were so successful, they exceeded the amount needed for the meals. So, the students agreed to use the $117 in extra funds to purchase items that were on the shelter’s wish list. “The kids enjoyed the opportunity to go on that shopping run to buy things to donate to the shelter.”

SCVi Lower School Director Kim Shaw said the 6th- and 8th-graders did an excellent job of representing themselves and SCVi.

“Tonight was a wonderful example of what SCVi is all about…leadership, kindness and generosity,” Shaw said after the students’ March 5 visit to the shelter. “Our learners spent weeks planning a menu, raising the funds to purchase the food, cooking the meal, and finally serving the clients at Santa Clarita’s Emergency Winter Shelter. I could not be more proud and honored to have spent my evening with such amazing children.”

SCVi offers project-based K-12 curriculum and student-led assessment with global and culturally diverse influences. The tuition-free charter school emphasizes an inquiry-based, learner-centered approach to education. SCVi’s primary goal is to help learners lead a successful and fulfilled life while contributing to the world around them. More information about SCVi and iLEAD Schools is available at www.ileadschools.org.

Aaron Andrews, Kailey Spiteri, Lexi Andrews