As the Hyla community begins to gear up for both Mini-Term and Thanksgiving, community, social justice, and service are on all of our minds. Nothing is a more timely or relevant example of these values than our Monday visits to Helpline House with Cami. 

A partnership between Hyla and Helpline has existed since the early days of the school, when former Math teacher Chris Johnson began to take groups of students to volunteer, and the weekly visits have carried on ever since. The tradition was taken over by Cami, our Special Programs Teacher, about eight years ago when Chris retired. 

At Helpline, students assist in many ways; sorting and weighing food, repackaging bulk donations, and breaking down boxes. This action of service instills the importance of community and generosity in a context outside of the classroom. “It gives the kids a wider perspective about what else is going on in the community, outside the smaller Hyla community,” said Cami. 

The visits are scheduled by Clean Crew, each of which will go once or twice over the course of the year. To many students, these trips leave a lasting impression. One student said “It feels good to know that you are helping people and improving the community.” Some Hyla alumni even continue to volunteer at Helpline throughout high school. 

To learn more about how you can support Helpline throughout the holidays, please look under the “Community News” section below. All donations are appreciated, and hearty soups or other items with pop top lids are especially welcome during this time of year. 

 However, don’t let season dictate your giving! As the Food Bank Manager reminded us, while the giving season is a great time to donate, “There are 10 more months out of the year.”