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Yessica, pictured here with Angel Andrade, Michele Salas, Evelyn Polo, and Andrea Andrade, is a super star at the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe. Courtesy photo |
CommentsA Volunteer of Their Own
Published: January 13, 2010by Eleanore (10), Addy (8), Frances Joy (8), and Maia (5)
Kids Give
We’re kids and we volunteer. In our column we write about kids in our community who volunteer — what they do and why they do it.
On a clear, icy afternoon, we walked into to the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe in Kings Beach.
We were there to interview Yessica Escalona, a 16-year-old club volunteer, and Isabelle Wilson, the club’s executive director. But as we walked through the door, our minds completely switched. Instead, we wanted to play foosball and air hockey with the kids, use the kiln in the art room, solve the Mad Libs on the computer lab’s whiteboard, and laugh with the kids in the teen room. We even wanted to chat with the staff, who looked like really happy adults.
In fact, everybody looked happy — including Isabelle and Yessica, who waved us into the office for the interview.
Isabelle is a cheerful, spirited woman who seems to see goodness everywhere. But her eyes sparkle brightest when she sees Yessica.
Yessica looks like she could be Isabelle’s niece: she is small, lively, and smiles constantly. She came to the club as a shy 12-year-old, speaking only Spanish. She joined because she was afraid of being pressured to do drugs after school and she wanted to learn English. As time passed, Yessica came more regularly to be with friends and the welcoming staff.
Now, she volunteers at the club from 3 until 6 or 7 p.m. nearly every day. She scans 200 kids’ Club Cards at check in and check out. She operates the data management program, trades office coloring supplies for collateral, helps in Resource Development by stuffing fundraising envelopes, and this year designed the 2010 Club Calendar by collecting and arranging kids’ art pieces.
Of course, she gets to play with the children, too.
We asked Yessica how she managed all those kids, ages 5 to 16. She wrinkled up her face in another smile and said, “I say, ‘Esperense!’ all the time.” Esperense means “patience” in Spanish.
When we asked Yessica why she volunteers so much, she said, “It just feels good saving the kids. Even if it’s their worst day, they always put a smile on my face.”
Isabelle beamed, adding, “Yessica always knows what to do and when to do it — without being asked. She is a role model for the other kids because she comes regularly, she cares about kids, and she makes them feel welcome. She gives them the message this is a safe place to come.”
When Yessica first came here, she shrugged her shoulders when someone would ask her what she wanted to do in life. Now, she smiles confidently. She wants to be a delivery nurse. The staff will help her work toward that goal. She might get some practice soon: her brother and his partner are having a baby in February and she plans to be there.
As we left Isabelle’s office, we saw how much love surrounded Yessica. The first thing we heard was a child yelling her name, then we saw a child swing into her arms, then another cling to her legs.
As we waved goodbye, a child with a book was curling up in Yessica’s lap.
~ We know we’re not the only kids who volunteer. If you do, or you know someone who does, please email us: itstime4kids2give@gmail.com. And don’t forget to comment on our column online at moonshineink.com.
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