Aliso Niguel’s students are making a meaningful impact through the Community Care Club, which is a student-led organization that is dedicated to volunteer work and programs that benefit the community and those in need.
The Community Care Club was founded this school year by President Gabby Gulini (11) and Vice President Aaryan Mangalekar (11). The club started as a way to provide students with easy access to volunteer opportunities, as many students struggle when trying to find ways to receive service hours.
Many students at Aliso are members of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and National Honors Society (NHS), in which they are required to give back to the community through community service. Through the Community Care Club, students are provided with an easy way to get involved with different organizations in order to give back to the community.
Recently, on Feb. 5, the club had a volunteer opportunity with the LightZ of Hope Foundation, also known as the Zachary Woodward Organization. LightZ of Hope is an organization that donates disco LED light speakers to children who suffer from long-term illness or are disabled.
This organization relies on volunteers to assemble and package the lights that are to be received by children in the hospital. The Community Care Club has worked with the LightZ of Hope organization on multiple occasions and will continue to do so for future volunteer opportunities.
Club President Gabby Gulini emphasizes that when picking organizations to work with, there are important considerations to be made, saying, “The organization needs to be accessible, so all our volunteer opportunities are within a 15-minute radius so students don’t have to drive far… we try to work with organizations that give back to children because we are a youth based club.”
Gulini explains that this is why the LightZ of Hope organization is the perfect opportunity for students to get involved and gain volunteer hours, as it meets this criteria. Volunteers typically gain two hours of service for each volunteer opportunity per month.
When asked what she hopes members take away from their experience with the Community Care Club, Gulini shares, “I hope people understand that there is no time better than the present to get involved with the community. No act of service or kindness is too small and individuals can always make an impact on their community. Getting involved is an incredible experience that is so fulfilling.”
To get involved in the Community Care Club, can sign up on the Remind app to receive iMessages from the club’s Remind thread. The club holds monthly meetings as well. Students can attend these meetings to get information on how to join the club. They will also provide information on when and where the next volunteer opportunity will take place and how to sign up.
The volunteer positions fill up quickly and are limited to a certain number of volunteers so make sure to sign up further in advance. The next club meeting will be on Feb. 28 in room 106, in Mrs. Rose’s classroom.
