Mentorship class busts stereotypes

Adults have said that we're too young to care and that we have too much self-pride.

The opinion of some is that today's youth are selfish, caring only about themselves and not the world around them.

The students of Laura Christopher's sixth grade mentorship class at Rusk Junior High have heard all of these opinions and are more than happy to prove them wrong.

The class is collecting eyeglasses to send to Medical Bridges of Houston, an organization that collects and distributes medical surplus items to hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers in underprivileged countries.

Donations may include old prescription glasses, frames or shades.

A project that started in a classroom "as far away from everything else in the (junior high) building," as Ms. Christopher put it, now reaches out to the surrounding community to help people a world away.

"We started after the holiday break in January," Ms. Christopher said. "Right now, we have somewhere between 75 and 100 pairs just from here at the school alone."

From mission trip to

students' mission

Our parents may think that we don't care, and sometimes, our attitudes make them think that. That's not always true. We're giving glasses to people who need them.

The project started after one of Ms. Christopher's students, Lacey Wallace, told Ms. Christopher about a mission trip she'd taken over the summer. Lacey and her mother worked with Medical Bridges to pack boxes to ship to other countries.

"She (Lacey) said she was inspired by helping others and thought it was a lot of fun," Ms. Christopher said.

Lacey brought the idea to Ms. Christopher and the entire class embraced it, giving it the name "Glasses for the Greater Good." The 17 students created their own posters to promote the project around campus.

Each morning, students announce the project over the school's intercom through jingles they wrote themselves.

Jingles are set to different tunes ranging from London Bridge to We Will Rock You.

"They've all been very excited about the project," Ms. Christopher said. "They love drawing and coloring posters and coming up with jingles to promote it."

Involving the community

A lot of older people may be embarrassed to help other people. Doing this helps set an example for everyone.

The project has grown past the walls of RJH and donation boxes can be found at J & J Jewelry and Gifts, CherokeeTrace.org, the Rusk ISD Administration Building, Affiliated Surveyors, the Cherokee County Electric Co-Op, Chapman's Pharmacy, the Iron Horse and Brookshire Bros.

Donation boxes can also be found at the front office of Rusk Junior High.

"If anyone has any old glasses, frames or sunshades, we would appreciate their donation," Ms. Christopher said.

"The kids have said that it would be nice to see the faces of the people that we're able to help. We're asking everyone to help us help others."

We hope that everyone who gets these glasses enjoys them and that they'll be happy to be able to see.

Students in the Mentorship class are Erin Beckworth, Stephan Clay, Mackinly Dover, Matthew Dover, David Enriquez, Bailee Gates, Liz Heidel, Rebekah Heidel, Justin Hunt, Brittany Kellis, Cole Lawson, Jenny Sue Magruder, Kyle Monk, Zachary Morgan, Kaitlyn Tugwell, Lacey Wallace and Tyler Wilbanks.