Rogue Valley Adventist Academy has chosen to partner with Sparrow Clubs for one of its community outreach projects. There are three parts to the project: 1) a qualified Sparrow (a child in medical need); 2) a school adopting a child as a community service; and 3) sponsors with seed money to launch the project. Through project sponsorship and a service voucher system, students perform community service as a way to raise funds to meet the needs of their Sparrow child.
RVAA students were willing, and the Robert and Frances Chaney Family Foundation in Medford, Ore., generously agreed to partner with them as a project sponsor.
Angel Villa was selected as a Sparrow Child. As a 23-month-old boy, Villa has already received surgeries on his back and foot, and will most likely need additional ones in the future. The funds raised through the Sparrow Club will be used to help offset the costs of his medical bills, travel expenses to doctors in Portland, Ore., and basic family expenses.
Villa visited the campus for a school-wide assembly with his mother on Tuesday, Feb. 2. He was an instant hit with the students, who stood to their feet to show their willingness to take on the Sparrow Club challenge of CGI (compassion, generosity and integrity). Students took home Sparrow vouchers to begin logging community service hours. Mariah Albrecht, a sixth-grade student, is looking forward to making baked goods to share with her neighbors and washing cars as part of her way to make a difference for Villa. Albrecht loves to read to the pediatric children at the hospital and was excited to learn these activities qualify for Sparrow voucher time. Cassidi Sandefur, an eighth-grade student, enjoys making cards for a local retirement center and church members. She is thinking about incorporating these into Sparrow voucher time. Eric Katzenbach, 10th-grade student, plans to organize a committee to plan school-wide community projects with elementary students.
The first high school-level project was to clean up a community historic cemetery. More than 50 students participated by raking leaves, moving rocks and collecting trash. In spite of the cold weather, spirits were positive since they were working for their project. The Sparrow project for RVAA is already making a positive impact on the community while benefiting their Sparrow — Angel Villa.
From left: Taylor Wold, Jesse Gilley, Max Kim and Christian Goodness remove rocks at a local cemetery. RVAA students work to benefit their Sparrow Club project.
Mae Camarena, student, visits with Angel Villa, the RVAA Sparrow Club child.
Kendra Mitchell, Lindsey Hart and Kaitlynn James cheerfully help at a community cemetery.
