Salpointe Seniors Recognized for Outstanding Community Service

Article from This Is Tucson:

Tucson has plenty of volunteer opportunities for teenagers that will teach them how to serve their community and the people who live here.

Whether you spend a morning with your teen painting Ben's Bells or they sign up for regular shifts at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, we have a feeling they'll get a whole lot out of it.
Just ask these three teens.

Levi Padilla is a 17-year-old Salpointe Catholic High School student who has volunteered at the Primavera Foundation and St. Luke's Home, an assisted-living facility.

And Zoey Delgado, 17, has taken shifts with a variety of organizations, including Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids, Casa Maria, the local VA hospital, the Angel Heart Pajama Project and programs through the Assistance League of Tucson. She is also part of the National Honor Society at Salpointe Catholic High School.

Editor's note: These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Meet Levi Padilla.
What kinds of things do you help with when you volunteer?
My freshman year I volunteered with Primavera. There I helped set up for holidays and helped to make food for the holiday parties. At St. Luke's, I set up Christmas decorations.

Why do you think volunteering here is important?
I think it is important to volunteer at these places because many of these people don't have anyone to help them and oftentimes feel as if there is no one who cares or thinks about them. I like to volunteer because it lets the people know that there are people who care for their well-being. I believe these actions can change their days and lives.

What would you say to encourage other teens to volunteer?
I would say that we, as teens, are the future of the world. We are the future of the community. It is our job to take care of those who are struggling within the community and those who have helped build the community in which we live in today. Yes, the volunteer hours may seem tedious, but try to think about the immense impact you could have on others and how this impact spreads to many other people. This is the world that we have to live in; this is the world that our kids will live in and so on. Why not make this world a little better ... for yourself, your kids, and those who come after your kids?

Meet Zoey Delgado.
What kinds of things do you help with when you volunteer?
When I volunteer for Assisteens (through the Assistance League of Tucson) I help work the counter at the thrift shop where all the profits go directly to fund philanthropic programs.

Why do you think volunteering here is important?
Assisteens gathers the young adults of the Tucson community and sends us out to help others. Through this experience we learn how we can help local issues and what existing programs we can volunteer at. We get to do important work like making assault survivor kits, helping kids pick out clothes for school, making sandwiches for the homeless — and we get to do it together. It is a unique experience to volunteer alongside our peers and see the impact that we can make when we all work to better our community.

What would you say to encourage other teens to volunteer?
There is so much truth in "it is better to give than to receive" and by volunteering we can experience the happiness that accompanies giving our time, compassion and charity to those who need it. The more you become involved with the programs you volunteer for, the more you will enjoy it. Volunteering can be fun especially if you seek to participate in activities that involve your interests — like if you love art, then try volunteering at Ben's Bells. The positive attitude that you bring when you serve the community and make meaningful connections will impact you just as much as others.

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Salpointe Catholic High School

1545 E. Copper St.,
Tucson, AZ 85719
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