POCATELLO — Around 1,400 students and faculty at Pocatello High School gave back to the community on Wednesday through the school’s annual day of service project.
The annual day of service, which is held every year around Earth Day, assists the local community through various clean-up projects, tree planting and other restorative ventures that help beautify neighborhoods, roads and parks.
For students like sophomore Colton Wheeler, who assisted his peers helping clean up at the Idaho State Veterans Home, the opportunity provides a way to give back through selfless service.
“We have places like the veteran’s home that can’t really get stuff done, like changing out the wood chips or wood bark for different mulches and picking up around the curbs,” Colton said. “Not a lot of people will volunteer, so why don’t we just do it? It gives us a good rap for what we do and hopefully brings in more students to (Pocatello High) in the future.”
Colton continued, “There are people out there that can really use (the help). Sometimes you’ll learn that you like doing something such as landscaping, fixing up plumbing or just learning how to be somewhat of a good individual. I’ve been trying to be a better person myself, doing stuff like this and learning how to help. It makes me feel like I’m actually doing something different in my life. I feel like doing this really does change you as a person.”
Pocatello High School students visited various locations across the Gate City area that included historic downtown, the Westside Players Warehouse, Aid for Friends, Scout Mountain, Zoo Idaho and various nearby churches.
The faculty accompanied the students in casual work attire as they visited the service project areas, providing a golden opportunity for everyone involved to soak up the sun and enjoy the peace that comes with enjoying Idaho’s great outdoors.
Jeff Roberts, who is in his 33rd and final year as a teacher and currently instructs the seminary class at Pocatello High, offers a unique perspective having attended nearly every day of service since its inception. Roberts recognizes the good it does to not only uplift students but the community they lend their support to.
“Just the scope of impact is really great, whether it’s something like (assisting) the veteran’s home or (helping) Parks and Recreation to be able to have more hands,” Roberts said. “We’ve all heard the saying many hands make light work and it’s great. We’re out here having fun too. We’re getting the job done and having a fun time doing it. I think it’s a big impact in that way.”
From Sister City Park in Pocatello to McCammon, Roberts has spent years helping plant, paint and contribute to the many great parks and facilities throughout Southeast Idaho. Harnessing those years of expertise, Roberts understands the positive impact a teacher can have on growing young minds.
“I feel like I’m a people person,” Roberts said. “I’m a connector and observant. I watch and try to help students not just in my classroom, but for their life. I’m invested in that and I will miss that. There are some things that I’m ready to step away from, you have to feel some of those things, so you’ll actually retire.”
Roberts continued, “I know most of these students, many of them have been in my classes. I’ll miss that. A teacher affects eternity, they never know where their influence ends. I believe that’s kind of been my motto in a lot of ways.”
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