Community Corner
Whiz Kids: JROTC Cadets Fight Hunger
The cadets volunteered and raised money as part of the JROTC's annual service learning program.
Franklin High School JROTC
Whiz Kid's Ages: 14-18
Whiz Kid's School:
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Whiz Kids' Accomplishment: These Whiz Kids raised just over $800 for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, in addition to volunteering at the non-profit organization.
Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Each year, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), selects a worthwhile cause to assist.
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"The service learning project is when you connect the community service with a need for the community, so you connect the curriculum with something done in the community," said Sergeant First Class Jimmy Ramirez.
This year the JROTC cadets collaborated with the L.A. Regional Food Bank. The cadets joined other volunteers to package food for the needy.
The JROTC currently has approximately 188 cadets in its program, 36 of which participated in the annual service learning program. According to Ramirez, 20 cadets volunteered at the food bank.
"I had a great time and I really felt good about myself after helping out and packing all the food for the people that don’t have the privilege that we do. It was lots of fun," said sophomore Jesus Valerio.
Eleventh grader Roger Martinez helped out on the production line, putting together packages of food.
"I was making sure that each bag had two cans of sweet potatoes in it. It was a lot of work because the speed of the assembly line would be slow and then get faster, but it felt good to help people in need," the 17-year-old Martinez said.
In addition to volunteering, the entire JROTC participated in a pledge run that generated $810.10 in donations, which will be donated to the food bank.
"We basically collected pledges from people we knew for the laps we ran around the track and we earned a good amount of money," said senior Brenda Gudiel, who ran two laps.
Ramirez said, "We always try to tell them to get involved in something and what they get out of it will be very rewarding. We say it's s an alternative to make the cadets feel good and do something for the community that is positive."
