Pivot Charter School San Diego Students Volunteer at Meridian Senior Living
Pivot Charter School San Diego students are making a difference in the lives of senior citizens at Meridian Senior Living, a senior center located next to the school.
Once a month, a group of 10 students visit their neighbors at the senior center to spend time with the residents – having conversations, working on craft projects and playing games.
For the students, spending time at Meridian Senior Living gives them a chance to develop relationships with community members they may never meet otherwise, according to Craig Hobart, Regional Director, Pivot Charter School San Diego (San Elijo Hills Resident).
“These visits have increased students’ overall awareness of our community and its diversity,” Hobart said. “Through relationships with our senior citizen neighbors, the students are developing empathy and other traits that will serve them well in life.”
According to Zahonna Harrington, a tenth grader in her second year at Pivot Charter School San Diego, visiting Meridian Senior Living is a win-win for both the students who volunteer and the senior residents.
“It’s a really fun, good opportunity for community service, and it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away. The people there have a lot of life experiences; they tell really good stories and crack a lot of funny jokes. And when we visit, it’s nice for them to get a breath of fresh air and have someone different to talk to,” Zahonna said.
Pivot Charter School San Diego high school students are required to conduct 20 hours of community service each semester. They gain five credits for each 40-hour block of community service.
For additional information about Pivot Charter School San Diego, visit www.pivotsandiego.com/.
