Giving thanks to helping hands

Serene Gallardo, Community Section Editor

November 20, 2013

At Apollo Park on Nov. 22, H.E.L.P.S. room director, Beth Gendreau, sorts cans and goods voluntarily for people in need. Gendreau had a significant amount of work, but enjoyed doing it; she has been in charge for four years and hopes to continue in this capacity.

Teachers from Downey High’s English department collaborated with the PTA HELPS room, located in Apollo Park, to put together Thanksgiving baskets, which were then sent out to families with insufficient funds for their own festive dinners. From Mon., Oct 21 to Friday, Nov. 8, donations for the baskets were accepted from students.

Mrs. Hill’s – the English teacher who brought this to campus – mother is a former PTA HELPS room school site coordinator who is acquainted with the current head of the room. He knows her daughter is a high school teacher, and so, called for her help in collecting donations – which she gladly provided. She turned to fellow English teacher Ms. Kasner to assist in gathering canned foods and the like, in hopes that more baskets would be assembled in time for distribution.

“We plan on distributing baskets to around 300-350 families,” Hill said.

Though ASB is conducting its own food drive this month, it does not correlate with the upcoming holiday; given its deadline, the goods won’t be distributed in time for Thanksgiving.

“My understanding is that the ASB food drive isn’t going to get to the families in time for Thanksgiving,” Kasner said. “We wanted the families to benefit from this sort of thing in time for the holiday.”

This event is more involved with the PTA HELPS room than anything; however, it is rare that something like this isn’t directly linked with the school’s ASB. Nonetheless, it still manages to positively impact families within the community.

“Families are poor, and when it comes to holidays, they can’t have a fully enjoyable time without the food,” Caroyln Aguilar, a student in Kasner’s 5^th period Honors 10 class, said.

The city of Downey may be perceived as affluent, but many residing families still struggle to put food on the table in time for the holidays. It is little things like this, however, that gradually pick them up and set them off on a better foot.

About the Contributors

Serene Gallardo, Community Section Editor

Returning to The Downey Legend, junior Serene Gallardo is hoping to take more responsibility as a section editor, rather than being solely a writer. She wanted to join Newspaper after a class visit to Mrs. Ramirez’s class, and soon after, she was in. For her, Newspaper was a great platform to showcase what she loved doing the most: telling the story of thousands of Downey citizens. “For a quiet person like me,” she says, “writing is one of the best ways to express myself.” In her free time, the 16-year-old introvert enjoys going on the internet, writing poetry, and playing Mario Kart. Musically, Gallardo’s tastes range from 80s-nostalgic tunes by The Smiths and The Cure to more modern alternative jams by Mac Demarco and Tame Impala. In the future, the writer sees herself attending a university somewhere in Northern California, where she wants to either continue her writing career or become a preschool teacher. But for now, she enters her second year with unassailable high hopes and a bright future.

Veronika Cedillo, Photographer

Veronika Cedillo, a 17-year-old senior, is a new member of The Downey Legend staff. After taking Photojournalism her junior year, Cedillo has decided to pursue a career in photography and thought joining the school’s newspaper would be a great place to begin her journey. Being behind the camera is where Cedillo feels the most comfortable; it is her escape from reality, her happy place. Cedillo has fallen in love with the camera and loves to capture incredible moments with a single picture. “Memorable moments don’t just have to be stored in the back of your mind,” Cedillo said. “That’s what’s so great about a camera; it allows you to actually keep something from that amazing moment that you never want to forget.” If Cedillo isn’t busy with a camera, she may be sipping down a Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks with her friends or walking her Maltese Mix dog along the shore of the beach. Someday, Cedillo would like to work for National Geographic and travel the world doing what she enjoys the most: taking pictures. “If you are lucky enough to find something you are truly passionate about, then you should do everything to pursue that dream,” Cedillo said. “Don’t let anything or anyone stop you from achieving your goals.” Cedillo is looking forward to her first year on The Downey Legend’s 2013-2014 staff.