Faith Lutheran kids come bearing holiday gifts and yuletide cheer for community

Jacob kepler/VIEWFaith Lutheran Middle School students sort through gifts en route to distributing them to youth around the valley last holiday season. Jacob Kepler/ViewFaith Lutheran students walk into Cheyenne High School to deliver gifts to students there. Advertisement

More than 500 middle school students swarmed the community late last month during Faith Lutheran's annual Middle School Servant Day.

For the past three years, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at Faith Lutheran, 2015 S. Hualapai Way, have donated their time to help a number of nonprofit organizations around the Las Vegas Valley.

On Dec. 21, the middle school students participated in activities in groups of 20, led by teachers from the school. The teams were sent to nonprofit organizations, including the U.S. Vets home, 525 E. Bonanza Road, Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., and various locations of the Boys and Girls Club.

"I think it's great, you know?" said TJ Roule, an eighth-grade student. "I help out every year."

In 2006, TJ helped wrap Christmas presents and made lunch for a local family that needed extra help during the holiday season.

"It makes me feel great. It's a warm feeling giving back to the community and the less fortunate," TJ said. "It's a fun way to help people."

The event takes place each year on the last day of school before Christmas break comes for the Faith Lutheran community, which helps the students focus on helping others before they're released on vacation, middle school Assistant Principal Jake Kothe said.

Service activities include feeding the homeless, reading to young children in at-risk preschools, working at the Ronald McDonald House and bringing gifts to people around the valley. At the U.S. Vets home, students decorated the facility and spent time with the veterans who are housed there.

"Last year, we went to a center for the mentally challenged where they take kids with mental disabilities," said Jesse Bergner, an eighth-grader. "After we went, I realized I wasn't so perfect and that there are things wrong with me."

This year, Jesse helped feed homeless Las Vegans.

"I felt sad that they had to go through what they had to go through, but I felt happy that I could help them," Jesse said.

After the students completed their community service, they were taken back to school, where they remained in their small groups and spent time reflecting on what they did during the event. Teachers discussed the possible ramifications of students' actions and the children shared what the day meant to them.

"We want our kids to have an understanding of the importance of serving others," Kothe said. "It's just powerful to see our students interact and give so joyfully of their time and resources."

Jennifer Karner, middle school physical education teacher, was one of the advisers who helped out during the service event. She took her students to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth's headquarters at 4800 S. Maryland Parkway, where her group toured the facility, cleaned, planted flowers and worked in the location's drop-off center.

"I really think that it broadens their education," Karner said. "You can say they're quite sheltered here."

Karner said one of the things she likes most about the event is that it shows students they can make a difference, even though they are young and may not have a lot of personal resources.

"There are tons of opportunities out there and if kids from middle school can help out the community, anybody can help out the community," Karner said.

Faith Lutheran Junior and Senior High School hosts this event annually, through the assistance of local nonprofit organizations.