Photos courtesy of Alyssa Cabrera.
Students from Sylmar Biotech High School Health & Engineering Magnet (SBHEM) in Sylmar, Calif., recently demonstrated their Framework skills through a series of community service initiatives throughout the Los Angeles area. The projects, which took place over several weeks, allowed students to apply multiple skills including leadership, teamwork; multi-cultural sensitivity and awareness; planning, organizing and management; and service orientation while responding to real needs in their community.
Honoring First Responders
As part of National First Responders Day, students organized an appreciation effort for local firefighters. Participants created a large poster and invited students, staff and chapter members to sign their names and write messages of thanks recognizing the dedication and sacrifices of local fire fighters.
Diego Sanchez, an SBHEM senior, felt strongly about the importance of recognizing first responders, “The unwavering commitment of our first responders is something that really shouldn’t go unrecognized in today’s world, and through this event I hope it really capitalized on the importance of supporting them,” he said.
The completed poster was delivered to Fire Station 91, where firefighters were able to read the messages and see the community’s support firsthand.
Addressing Food Insecurity
Students also volunteered at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to support families experiencing food insecurity. During the event, volunteers organized four deep bins of apples from donors, carefully separating edible ones from the spoiled ones to ensure only safe, high-quality food was included.
In addition to sorting food, students helped raise awareness by distributing flyers that explained food insecurity in the community and outlined ways others can help.
Rebecca Reyes, an SBHEM senior wanted to help those in need, but initially wasn’t sure how. “As a person who lives in a place where I see a lot of homelessness and hunger, I wanted to make an impact in my community to make a difference, even if it was small. Sometimes I feel helpless as I don’t have a job, so I don’t have money to donate. So, I took this opportunity to make my community stronger any way I could,” she said. “When I researched food banks and found the L.A. Regional Food Bank, I decided that my team and I don’t have to donate money, but our time. It made me realize that my efforts can compensate for money.”
Promoting Senior Internet Safety
To help bolster independence for older adults, students launched a Senior Internet Safety Initiative focused on helping them use technology safely and confidently. The group created a brochure in both English and Spanish to provide guidance on avoiding online scams and maintaining secure digital habits.
Students distributed the brochures by sending them home with classmates for their grandparents and by going door to door in nearby neighborhoods, expanding the initiative’s reach beyond campus.
“I think helping seniors with technology is honestly a really cool thing to do,” SBHEM senior Ethan Alcaraz said. “My grandma got four different phones this past year since she really didn’t understand how to actually use them. She also gets a lot of emails and forgets her passwords, so as her grandchild, I’m trying to help her. I think this brochure will help her because it has clear steps on what to do with her passwords, email and stuff.”
SkillsUSA Chapter member Alyssa Cabrera, an SBHEM senior, summarized the chapter’s community service efforts this way. “These projects helped us actively make a positive impact in our community by supporting people facing food insecurity, showing appreciation for our local firefighters, and helping senior citizens feel safer and more confident using technology. By bringing service, appreciation, and learning together, we were able to make a difference in our community and hopefully encourage others to do the same.”
