Student Volunteers “pay it forward” in the Texarkana Community
By Brittny Ray-Croswell
As the holiday season quickly approaches, nearly every child’s mind has begun to fill with thoughts of the long breaks, brightly-wrapped presents and dining room tables teeming with various delectable treats.
While we often chastise our children for forgetting those among us who struggle everyday without the things we take for granted, several area students have dedicated their time to help others in need, ensuring that their community and world will be a more caring and compassionate place to live for generations to come.
Vantores Turner, a senior at Texas High School, first developed his love of giving back when he was just ten years old. “My grandfather would go around cutting yards for people in the [Hope] community for free. I would ride along with him and help.”
Later, upon moving to Texarkana, Vantores began volunteering with Harvest Texarkana at the recommendation of one of his teachers, Kelly Driver. While he knew that volunteer experience is favorable when applying to college, the opportunity to serve his community was rewarding in itself. He frequently helped the organization by packing boxes, separating toys and canned goods, in addition to interacting with other volunteers and guests. “I liked that I was able to help people that really needed it in any way I could.”
Likewise, Jerry Edgar, a senior at Pleasant Grove High School, also found a sense of purpose during his time volunteering at the Randy Sams Outreach Shelter. “[Volunteering] is great for [building] moral character. If you go through life not helping others you’ll regret it.”
Both Vantores and Jerry cite specific personal experiences as the motivating force behind their desire to serve others. With his father deceased, Vantores was often tempted to go down the wrong path growing up. Yet, the impact of family members and others who stepped in to help him has never left him, but served to further influence him to be a positive example for others with a similar experience. “When I see people that need things and don’t have the resources to get it, I feel like I’m ‘paying it forward’ because I was helped in the same way,” Vantores says. “I grew up without a father and if I wanted something I would just take it, but I had an older cousin and other people that made it so I wouldn’t have to go out and do those things.”
Similarly, Jerry also believes in the reciprocating principal of “paying it forward,” especially in the case of other children. “When I was younger we sometimes had a hard time getting food on the table, so to help others out is nice,” Jerry says. “Those kids will be able to get a proper education and become more innovative in the future because they didn’t have to worry about food.”
Vantores also spent time volunteering at Randy Sams alongside members of his church. He fondly recalls an experience he had with one guest during the Christmas holiday: “There was this one man in a wheelchair. He was a cookie monster! He wanted [lots of] chocolate chip cookies and two sloppy-joes and a Sprite.” His exchange with the man reminded him of a beloved family member. “He made me think of my auntie who was like a second mother to me. She snacked all of the time,” he says. “She had an aneurism and a stroke, but she could still say ‘Jesus’, ‘God’, and ‘I love you.’”
Vantores believes that likening the guests he helps to members of his own family encourages him to reach out even more. “If someone has a family member [in need] it drives you, motivates you to help everyone. At least it should. We’re all people.”
Sadly, many neglect to see the value of giving back to their community, though one significant catastrophe could very well put them in the same position as many of those needing assistance. “[We] need to look around and see how many people are in need and realize that you could be there, too,” Jerry says. “Wouldn’t you want someone to help you in that situation?”
All in all, Vantores and Jerry believe that volunteering is helping them to build a stronger foundation for the future. “We’re the next generation. We have to step forward on our own path,” Jerry says. “It’s all going to be handed down to us, [but] even in bad times you can think, ‘At least I helped someone.’”
Their commitment towards creating a better world than the one they inherited is sure to have a lasting impact and legacy. “The experiences of my youth will carry over to my adult[hood]. I can grow up and tell my kids and grandkids how I’ve helped,” Vantores says. “I can capitalize on what I’ve learned so I can do better. I can show kids like me that other than going down the road of destruction [you] can pay it forward and be blessed.”
