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Group gives students a way to give back

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Photo courtesy of Kellie Wigley.

When Kellie Wigley became the seventh-grade counselor at Pizitz Middle School this year, she had a dream in mind.

She wanted to start something that everyone could be a part of.

“Middle school can be a tough time to find your place,” said Wigley. “I wanted everyone to be able to have their thing that they are involved in.”

Add in the fact that many people in Vestavia Hills have needs to meet, and the Pizitz Pirate C.R.E.W.S. service club was born.

Wigley had already seen a similar idea work well during her three years as assistant principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, so she wanted to bring it to Pizitz starting with one big kickoff event.

“It gives students a way to give up their time and think of other people,” Wigley said of the C.R.E.W.S. club, which stands for Community Recruits Engaged and Willing to Serve. “We’re hoping it will really take off.”

So far, it has.

More than 60 students showed up ready to work at the club’s first event, Helping Hands in the Hills, on Sept. 12. They did projects ranging from painting to yard work.

“It was such a big success,” Wigley said. “Not only did they have an opportunity to go out and serve in the community, but it also gave many students an opportunity to develop new friendships. It was a chance to be with their peers and serve other people with their peers. It made a lot of connections across the board.”

Riley Giardina, a seventh-grader, said it was great to “come together as friends and as a school community to help people who need help.”

What did she like most about the project itself?

“I enjoyed meeting the lady whose yard we helped with and to see how grateful she was for what we did. It made me feel good,” Giardina said.

And students weren’t the only ones who thought the event was a hit. After Helping Hands in the Hills, the emails starting rolling in from parents saying they’d like to help lead the C.R.E.W.S.

“I think we could have this group of parents continue this [the projects from Helping Hands in the Hills] as an ‘adopt a senior citizen’ effort — to take a meal, clean a house and help them in other ways on a continued basis,” Wigley said.

She’s also planning for the club to have one large organized event every nine weeks, and all Pizitz students are encouraged to participate.

“We have 1,100 students. What if they all jump on board with this? Once every nine weeks is doable, and everyone can be a part of it,” she said.

The club won’t have a membership roster — it will welcome any and all students to each planned event, Wigley said. But the club does have officers that will meet every Monday during eighth period to help with planning and advertising events.

The next event will likely be at local nursing homes and include making ornaments, playing bingo and visiting with residents at the homes.

The club will also do a big spring cleanup event for local schools, designating teams to work at each school.

 “The kids have really embraced the idea of the club and its projects, and parents have been really excited about it too,” she said. “It’s really growing and evolving. We’re thrilled about that.”

For more information about the club or to learn how to participate in its projects, email Wigley at wigleykn@vestavia.k12.al.us.

2015-2016 Pirate C.R.E.W.S. Officers

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