Giving Back to Local Communities

Jason Zhu
Editor-in-Chief

Some people might overlook the importance of giving back to the community and taking an active role in improving conditions in the world. However, community involvement can give students the pride and satisfaction of helping others. It also helps with strengthening the community and families. Yet how to pitch in? Never fear, there are several clubs and organizations on campus dedicated toward the effort of community involvement.
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‘Red Cross’ing Through Communities
Vicky Lam
Staff Writer

One of the most prominent international organizations on the Alhambra High School campus is Red Cross. Their mission is to prevent and ease human ailments in emergencies through volunteer work and donations.

On Oct. 6, Red Cross held their first blood drive of the year which had a successful turnout rate that saved over 300 lives. Those who could not participate as donors can donate in the next blood drive in January. Red Cross will have three on-campus blood drives and four off-campus blood drives this school year.

Holding weekly meetings, Red Cross members deliberate about fundraisers, socials and upcoming events around the community. The club is currently discussing a collaboration with Mark Keppel High School’s Red Cross at a future social to further their efforts in helping the community. “We will be hosting our first veterans drive on campus this year,” Red Cross President Jenny Mai said, “Our goal is to collect items and donate them to homeless veterans in need.”

Red Cross will focus on helping the community in whatever way they can for the remainder of the year, putting in their best efforts with every event.
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Bringing Cheer with Service
Samantha Lanzo
Staff Writer

Service clubs work together to help charities with their work. From running toy drives to serving food to those in need during the holiday season, these clubs do many different activities which help and bring happiness to people everywhere. Some service clubs in Alhambra High School are easy to join and grant people a way to help out their community.

Service clubs would not be service clubs without their activities and devotion to what they do. Some activities many service clubs do are helping out at centers, collecting things for homeless veterans and raising money for certain organizations. “We usually have a service with helping out with Chinese New Year, along with donating clothes and toys to children in need,” Interact Club member Karen Zhang said.

“We sometimes go to the Christmas Run and pass out water to the runners to keep them hydrated,” LEO member Kelly Deng said. Without these service clubs, there would not be enough access to get truly involved.
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Saving Christmas One Toy at a Time
James Reyna
Staff Writer

Having a toy drive helps bring communities together by creating a cause that many people will want to help contribute to, helping less fortunate children. A cause like this will draw people from all around Alhambra. It can serve as a way to help children in need and to bring together the community as a whole.
Not all families can afford to buy a gift for their child this Christmas. Whatever the case is, many people depend on toy drives and volunteer work to make Christmas special for their children. A toy drive is a community event that collects toys and gives them to needy children. Kidshare will be hosting a toy drive and are working with Toy Loan to help bring toys to less fortunate children. “The club members [are] trying to collect and get as people as possible to donate any toys that are in good condition for children in need,” Kidshare member Eva Ma said.
With a toy drive, many of these children can receive toys that will help bring a smile to their faces and reinvigorate their spirit for the holidays. Together, the community can work hard to help these families give their children the Christmas they deserve because no child should be melancholy on Christmas Day.
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Fun Facts
Jessica Yee
Copy Editor

– 62.8 million people volunteered in 2014, making the national volunteer rate 25.3 percent. Over the years, the number of volunteers has been dropping.
– If you are 14-20 years old and want to be a fire fighter or police officer, the City of Alhambra offers the Fire Explorer program and Police Explorer program, which provides training and scholarships.
– Home of the Angels in Alhambra works to provide a home for kids with special needs.
– Planting trees in your community provides cleaner air, lessens carbon emissions and provides shade—which would lower air conditioning cost and reduce the amount of water that grass needs. You can volunteer to plant trees with TreePeople or California ReLeaf.
– Alhambra Community Coordinating Council meets bi-monthly at Reese Hall of City of Alhambra Library. You can apply to be a member at
cityofalhambra.org.