500 WCHS Students 'Blitz' The Community

For the sixth year, Warsaw Community High School students went out into the community and volunteered their afternoon Thursday.

Approximately 500 students took part in BLITZ, "Bringing Light Into the Tiger Zone," sponsored by the student council. The event is an opportunity for students to make a difference in the community as well as to show a positive side of students. Groups of volunteer students are assigned randomly to help at various places in the Warsaw area. Forty WCHS staff members and parents chaperoned at the 34 various locations. Transportation to and from the work sites was provided by school buses.

WCHS junior Julie Robinson was one of several students who volunteered at the Animal Welfare League. It was her second year to help take care of the animals at the shelter,"because I really enjoy animals. I like to see a lot of different ones," she said.

As a freshman, this was Justin Brubaker's first year taking part in BLITZ, but he said he saw the importance of it.

"I think it's a good program. People can get out and help clean up and stuff," Brubaker said.

Even some of WCHS' exchange students got involved in the community as part of BLITZ.

Hanna Fatova, senior exchange student from the Ukraine, said, "I think it's really cool ... It gives kids the opportunity to help volunteer at places like the animal shelter."

She said more people should volunteer. "They should do more programs like this so they can get out in the community and volunteer."

As a junior, Kelsie Thompson has participated in BLITZ for three years now. "It's fun," she said of why she continues to participate. "I think it helps out."

From the experience, she said, students "learn responsibility and a sense of pride from helping out, (they take) ownership in the community." In return, the community "gets a lot. They get to see the youth is willing to help out." Work that may not get done or normally is put off gets completed by the students, she said.

"I think it's a great idea," said senior Douglas Burge. "We've been neglecting the community for so long."

"I think it's cool because we get to help out and we get out of school," freshman Jennifer Whitaker said. Asked if she will do it again next year, she said, "Heck, yeah."

Junior Adam Klotz was volunteering at Pike Lake Park for his second year of BLITZ. "I think it's a good thing. It's good to spend an afternoon (volunteering). ... You get to have a lot of fun together and you're doing something to help out." The one drawback, he said, was that only 500 of the 1,800 students at WCHS participated. He said, "I was kind of surprised. I would think more people would do it."

"I think it would be great if more students helped," said Courtney Raven, junior.

Student Council adviser Jim LeMasters said the premise behind BLITZ is to get kids out in the community and do some community service. It's not a payback to the community, but a way to get students involved in it.

He said, "I think it's good for kids to get involved."

Dr. Jennifer Brumfield, WCHS principal, said, "I think it's just more awareness that we have a student body that's willing to assist the community. ... It's really just the beginning of what we could do."

While only 500 of the 1,800 students participated, Brumfield said, those students that did take part have a true desire to help others. "I would like to see more, but then it becomes hard to manage," she said, plus some students needed to catch up on school work or do what they normally would do when they have an afternoon off school for early release day.

Brumfield said it's critical for students to do as much as they can for the community. Through BLITZ, some of the students have remained in touch with the organizations where they volunteered and have kept volunteering at those places.

As for feedback, Brumfield said, "I usually get very positive (feedback)." She is told how neat and friendly the students are and how appreciative the organizations are of the work the students do. Many are amazed at how much work the students can finish in two to three hours.

Sophomore class president Hilary Robinson, who helped organize BLITZ this year, said, "I think we did a good job. ... When all is said and done, I think it was good. I'm really happy with the number of students who came out. The community gives so much to Warsaw Community High School with their time or money, I think it's important we show it's not all about us. We can help, too."