East Forsyth High Students Help Out at Bethesda Center and Salvation Army

During the holidays, teacher Dottie Cornatzer-Williams’ students at East Forsyth High School have reached out to others by visiting the Bethesda Center’s shelter for people who are homeless and by participating in Salvation Army projects.

On the night of Dec. 14, 13 members of the East Forsyth Leo Club, which is affliated with the Kernersville Lions Club, went to the shelter on North Patterson Avenue. Club president Caitlin Smith has arranged for Out West Steakhouse in Kernersville to donate food for the meal.

“We served countless people beef tips in a warm, savory gravy, steamed green beans with carrots and mushrooms, and delicious creamy mashed potatoes from Outwest,” Cornatzer-Williams said. “Students donated drinks, rolls and desserts.

“Joyce Zhong headed up a sewing project where she and other club members made warm flannel hats to give to each person to help protect them from the winter woes quickly approaching us.

This was the second time that students had worked with the shelter. “We first heard of the opportunity last year when we volunteered at Gifts of Grace through Morris Chapel in Walkertown,” Cornatzer-Williams said. “Gifts of Grace is a church service project where families in need in the Walkertown area are given Christmas gifts, clothes, etc. to ensure a Merry Christmas. After Gifts of Grace, we asked if there were other activities we could participate with. We first did the shelter last March. It was very rewarding to see the genuine gratitude in people's eyes. We wanted to do it again, and Sherry Gray, who heads the church's shelter program, was able to offer us December. 

Here are some of the thoughts that students had afterward:

Junior Victoria Rivera: "Donating my time to the Bethesda Center has really given me the opportunity to see how lucky we are to live in a community where so many offer to give and help others." 

Junior Dalton Pearman: "It was very gratifying to hear how grateful the people at the shelter were and to see how happy they were on their faces."

Junior Isis Brooks: "It really warmed my heart to see all the smiling faces!"

For the third year, Cornatzer-Williams’ students in the Occupational Course of Study program, have participated in the Salvation Army’s Give a Kid a Coat, Project Angel Tree and Red Stocking Fund.

“Last year alone we worked a combined 530 hours!” she said. “We are still racking them up this year! We average about five to seven students per trip, as their academic and vocational schedules allow.

“While at Salvation Army, we fill Christmas wishes for children from underprivileged families that may need help to make their holiday season merry and bright. We also help fill stocking for the Red Stocking fund that you see at Chick-fil-A's out in the community. Then the highlight of the holiday season comes when we help deliver the Christmas toys to the family.

Here what some of the students participating in that program had to say:

Senior Marco Aguilar: "I like knowing that I am helping others and making people happy."

Senior Daquan Richmond: "I like to work at the Salvation Army because I like to help people and see people smile.  I have a part in making people's Christmas dreams come true."