ON APRIL 26, RESIDENTS spent a day of service cleaning and beautifying their city of Yorba Linda. But St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School decided to head a bit south to help another cause close to their hearts: at-risk children.
FR. MICHAEL NGUYEN, PAROCHIAL ADMINISTRATOR AT SANTA CLARA DE ASÍS CATHOLIC CHURCH, STOPS BY THE ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI BOOTH AT THE LOVE YORBA LINDA EVENT ON APRIL 26. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
For the second year, the school’s students, staff and alumni spent their time sprucing up Lot318, a nonprofit in Placentia that gives children a safe space to do their homework.
“St. Francis is not just about our little community up there on the beautiful hill,” said the school’s interim principal Josephine Panza. “It’s about everyone, and showing Christ’s love in whatever
we do, so it just warms my heart.”
She added: “Even though it’s a cloudy day, it still brings sunshine to my heart.”
Lot318 has served Placentia’s La Jolla neighborhood for about 18 years, said Steven Camarena, its program coordinator and special events co-coordinator. The nonprofit provides access to volunteer tutors through its Homework Club as well as giving other services and events. It has two locations: the original on Cypress Street and a newer Homework Club at the Gomez Community Center.
AUTUMN SIMCO (CENTER) HELPS CHILDREN WITH THEIR CRAFTWORK.
“We’ve seen change,” Camarena said. “One of the biggest things we say is, ‘Kids in our community no longer have to pick what gang they are going to choose. They get to pick what college they are going to choose.’ That’s the biggest difference we’ve seen here.”
With the rain coming down, St. Francis of Assisi’s plan to paint the perimeter wall was scrapped, but everyone found other ways to pitch in. Bundled in puffy coats, impervious jackets and clear ponchos, some found themselves aiding local Girl Scout Autumn Simco, 17.
Simco was getting started on her Gold Award service project, the Girl Scout’s highest honor, by helping move dumped items and dirt out of a side yard at Lot318. The high school junior said her project focuses on advocating for safe places for youth.
As the rain continued, they swung pickaxes and dug in shovels over and over, hauling wheelbarrows of dirt out of the side yard that’s slated to become a reading corner. The formerly unusable lot will soon be covered in grass and have two picnic tables, an umbrella and a tangerine tree where students can escape when they need a quiet place to complete their daily reading.
“I’ve seen through my own experiences growing up [the benefit of] having a good place to go to read and learn,” Simco said. “I see how it helps a student not only want to learn but want to have a good future for themselves.”
Under a metal structure with a heating lamp, other St. Francis volunteers brought some fun, art and gratitude to the La Jolla community. On tables strewn with crayons, markers and a rainbow’s worth of Play-Doh, children created, drew and completed gratitude jars. Although a simple act — writing or drawing what they were thankful for — the opportunity can help remind students there is always something to be grateful for and someone less fortunate, Camarena said.
JAKE AND BRITTNEI SCHAEFFLER ALONG WITH OTHER HELPERS, MOVE DIRT FOR LANDSCAPING AT THE LOT 318 PROJECT. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“Even though these students come from tough situations — some of them are sharing a room with four of their siblings — we still have that opportunity to help remind them that they are loved and that there still is love in their community,” he added.
Gratitude was a strong feeling for volunteer Scott Bailey after he had a quadruple bypass in August. After leading the painting team last year, Bailey said he was grateful to be able to help again this year.
“I want to do more, “Bailey said. “My wife is giving me the eye, but I want to do more. I’m very grateful to be here.”
Bailey’s wife, Ana Bailey, is a fourth-grade aide at St. Francis of Assisi. The experience also brought out an emotion in her as she watched her students serve others.
“It warms my heart,” she said. “It’s just so great to really instill and model these acts of love and compassion for our community.”
The day’s service project was created by school minister and school liaison Dawn Helwig in response to the school community asking for more service opportunities.
Helwig said the goal is always to be the hands and feet of Christ.
“It was about giving of your time and your effort and coming to a neighborhood where it made a difference to the people who live here, those who are normally forgotten,” Helwig said.
Helwig said she sees the school coming back to volunteer for Lot318 next year. Although it will be her last year at St. Francis of Assisi, she can’t imagine the school support ending with her.
“That would be my prayer and my hope,” Helwig said. “I’m all about how can we be the hands and feet of Christ in a humble manner, but that really reaches people’s hearts.”