Torch Club & Keystone Members Make A Difference

Daylight Savings Time is a way we try to get more light out of the day. When most people were losing an hour of sleep this past weekend, members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove (BGCGG) were awake and raising money for Thomas House, a temporary shelter for homeless families located in Garden Grove. Club members participated in the Thomas House 5th Annual Walk-A-Thon at Mile Square Regional Park. Clinton and Main Branch's Torch Clubs as well as the Keystone group fundraised $681.50 for this worthy charity.

There was a special feeling in the air that morning. It was the spirit of giving. Boys & Girls Club members and staff were very excited about taking part in the walk-a-thon. When the group arrived, they were greeted by Thomas House's Executive Director, Sister Kathy Stein and joyous clowns.

A group picture was then taken as members proudly displayed their various colored Boys & Girls Club T-shirts. After that, a local cable company filmed the group which created quite a stir amongst the youth for the fact that most of the members had never been on television before.

Members then proceeded to eat doughnuts, bagels and milk while staff members registered the group for the event. An opening ceremony began the festivities promptly at ten o'clock. Participants then followed the clowns as they circled around the lake for an inaugural lap. Members and the staff of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove walked, skipped, and ran together. It was a time for bonding and exertion. BGCGG members felt useful because with every lap that they took, they knew they were helping others. One could see the reward in the flushed faces of the children who partook of this event. Not only were the members personally benefiting from exercise on this Sunday morning, but they also felt good about themselves for contributing to a notable cause.

The day was also highlighted with one eleven year old Torch Club member, Anthony Figueroa, doing more laps than almost everyone at the fundraiser. This young man did over twenty one laps around mile Square Lake. His stamina was amazing. Anthony might quite possibly have a future in Track & Field. The group applauded him for his efforts.

Once the walking portion of the event was over, the group ate lunch together in the park. They interacted with one another and the community. Afterwards, there was a raffle drawing held for all participants. Four of Boys & Girls Club members actually won gift certificates to different businesses in the Garden Grove & Fountain Valley areas. The non-competitive walk in the park captivated the true meaning of caring. Supporting homeless families is something the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove leadership programs hope to continue to do from year to year.

The following Torch Club and Keystone members participated in the Thomas House Walk-A-Thon on Sunday, March 9, 2008:

MAIN BRANCH TORCH CLUB
Florenzia A.
Vincent A.
Tachelle C.
Kyndol C.
Maia C.
Anthony F.
Harrison G.
Yani G.
Samuel J.
Alexis L.
Carolina M.
Theresa N.
Dalia U.
Victor Z.

CLINTON TORCH CLUB
Byron L.
Victoria L.
Alexis M.
Clarissa M.
Angel P.

KEYSTONE
Rafael G.
Monique G.
Misty M.
Brian M.
Vanessa Q.
Esteban R.
Jovany S.
Jazmin S.
Tanya S.
Hugo T.