Service

Service for me is not only a way to give back to the community but also a calling that God asks from me that brings me joy and fills my spirit. Over the years, I found several opportunities to help others while having fun and meeting new people as well.

Coats for the Cold

The “Coats for the Cold” is an event created as part of the Knox County Youth health board program in which each member has to lead a collection of coats for the cold within our high school. I led the effort at my high school for 3 consecutive years and we were able to donate 567 coats to those in need!

Hispanic Family Book Drive

Last National Reading Month, I began an initiative aimed at providing Hispanic mothers in Knoxville with the resources to instill a love for reading inside of their children. With help and donations, I aimed for collecting kids books in Spanish and reaching out through the Catholic Charities Pregnancy help center. On March 15, I was able to personally give the donations to the Hispanic moms and explain the importance of reading to a child’s cognitive and language development.

“Leamos en English” (LEE)

LEE was an initiative I started with my friend Anabel during my freshman year in high-school to help kids from low-income Hispanic families in which the parents did not speak English to read them in English and introduce them into the habit of reading. We met Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1 hour in the library and read books to the kids. It was a very enriching experience.

The public invitation we created for the public library for promoting the LEE program.

Altar Serving

From a young age, I have been altar serving at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church masses and through serving I have gotten to know my parish better. Also upon entering Knoxville Catholic High School I began to serve at the all-school masses and processions and met new friends along the way.

More Service (YBH service included)

Lost Sheep Ministry- Distributed food and clothing to the needy on winter nights with the Lost Sheep Ministry underneath a bridge.
Empty Stocking Fund- During the Christmas season I helped distribute boxes of food to the less fortunate.
Second Harvest Volunteer- Packaged foods (mainly cheerios!!) that would be distributed at schools for the kids who needed them.
St. Mary’s Home For Mothers- Helped with several jobs around a retreat house for mothers with unplanned pregnancies who still choose to have their amazing babies. (I am the guy on the top of the pile)
Salvation Army Bell Ringing- Outside of West Town Mall some two of my friends and I helped collect donations for the Salvation Army Ministry.
Fish Pantries- distributed food and supplies to the less fortunate in downtown Knoxville I was able to use my Spanish to help people too it was awesome.
Cleanup at Calvary Catholic Cemetery- Along with some friends on the KCHS Cross Country Team we helped clean a Catholic Cemetery in downtown Knoxville.

Not pictured: Beardsley Farm Cleanup: Helped clean up a farm in downtown Knoxville which provides fresh produce to the less fortunate. Honor Air: Served food to veterans planning a trip to Washington D.C.