FESTIVAL EARNS FUNDS: SkillsUSA project to provide holiday ‘smiles’ to area children

Eva Neufeld, News/Features Editor|December 4, 2015

Frankie Resendez
For the kids Sophomores Justin Froese and Elias Heredia repair a pedal on a bicycle frame during fifth period automechanics. The bike was part of the national-qualifying Give a Child a Smile community service project.

The money raised by the Fall Festival went to the Give a Child a Smile bike program sponsored by Auto Tech SkillsUSA.

The $806.59 will go toward purchasing 16 new bicycles that the SkillsUSA students will assemble.

“There will be 45-50 bikes total with the new ones and the ones we repaired,” SkillsUSA sponsor Tommy Spence said. “We do this as a community service project. That’s SkillsUSA’s mission.”

NHS sponsor Katie Ray said the fall festival was to let high school students have fun as well as raise funds.

“The money stays here locally,” Ray said. “Local kids will benefit from this.”

SkillsUSA junior Koy Duncan said it was rewarding to work on the bikes.

“It warms my heart to know less fortunate children will get a Christmas present this year,” Duncan said. “It feels good to give back to the community.”

SkillsUSA senior Alexa Macias said seeing the kids smile makes it worth it.

“Repairing bikes is a lot of hard work,” Macias said. “Seeing how happy they are that they do get a present for Christmas is rewarding.”

NHS senior Haylie Hicks said the best part of the fall festival was that they got to get out of school early. “

It’s a break to have some fun,” Hicks said. “We don’t have to work the whole time.”

Senior Samuel Letkeman said his favorite booth was the pie throw. “Teachers and kids get pie thrown in their faces,” Letkeman said. “It’s funny.” Macias said her favorite booth was the one where friendship bracelets were made.

“My friend and I were the first ones there and the last ones to leave,” Macias said. “We had to redo them three times before we got it right. It was good bonding time.”