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Students leaf positive impact

FHS students, staff, community enjoy day of giving back

FAIRMONT - Community members in need got several helping hands Friday as the Fairmont Cardinals Give Back Day came back for another year.

Those who wanted a group of students to come and assist them sent in applications to the school district to be included, and this year eight locations were covered by six advisory groups for a total of around 60 kids from grades 9-12. Each group got out of school around 12:40 p.m., and while some got on buses, others were able to walk to the place they were assigned to.

One of these was Erik Walker's group of seniors, who helped with raking leaves, trimming hostas and other yard work for Joan Luedtke.

Walker said it is a location he has been to before.

"We’ve requested people to reach out if they know of a family in the community that needs some extra help around their yard or their house," he said. "This group was assigned this home last year. The homeowners are older, so giving them an extra set of hands on things like the labor in the yard is good."

Preparing for this endeavor was done over the span of a few weeks.

"Our group talked about this the first time in advisory about three weeks ago," Walker said. "Every Thursday when we meet in advisory, we’ve gone over things to bring, and we reached out to the home."

Having been able to help the same folks multiple times, Walker said it helps set expectations with the students.

"They knew the house, what to expect when they got here, workload and what they want done," he said. "It’s nice to be consistent that way."

With around 10 years under his belt helping with this program as an advisor, Walker said this day offers a teachable moment for the kids.

"There are plenty of teenagers who, when they’re asked to go into the community, groan or consider how to avoid this kind of work," he said. "I think it’s a normal part of growing up, understanding the value of improving your community beyond financial compensation, why it’s important to do things even when you’re not being paid to do them, just for the good of doing the action itself."

Through this teachable moment, Walker said he has seen this day have a tangible impact on students.

"Sometimes the students, as I said, think of it like a chore," he said. "I think that when we’re done or in the act of doing it together, it’s a lot more fun. We get to spend some time outside. They get to do it with their friends and the people they know. When we’re done, you get this sense of accomplishment."

Joan Luedtke, whose house Walker's crew helped with, said she first found out about it a few years ago from a friend. For this area to have a program like this, Luedtke said it is wonderful.

"These kids are learning and appreciating the elderly," she said. "We’ve never had kids make fun of us or anything. They’ve always been very kind, and it’s kind of fun."

Jennelle Cunning has also had students come over the past three or four years. After reading an article in the Fairmont Sentinel, she knew she could use their help.

"I’m an elder," she said. "I live alone with my dog, and I can’t do all of this yard work anymore."

As a former teacher, Cunning said she has been impressed with the students who come to help and the school district that gives back to the community in this way.

"I like to see that the young people are in the community and they’re helping those of us that can’t do it for ourselves."

Seniors Owen Terfehr, Joey Crissinger and Morgan Martius helped clip small trees and branches, putting them together into a large hammock-like bag before loading them onto a truck. This is their last year helping out, which they said they had done since sophomore year.

Terfehr said he likes helping out people who need it, while Crissinger said it is nice to help people out every once in a while, especially with their friends.

"I feel important," Martius said. "I feel helpful when I’m doing something."

Applications for assistance from the give back program will be open again in August and October of 2027.