Keyed-in students tune in to service

By Harold Gwin

Volunteering at the Salvation Army was Chaney Key Club’s latest project.

YOUNGSTOWN — Eight students from Chaney High School donned aprons, rubber gloves and hair nets in an effort to make a positive difference in their community.

The students, members of Chaney Key Club, a service group sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Youngstown, spent most of Thursday preparing and serving a meal to dozens of clients at the Glenwood Avenue Salvation Army facility. They also helped clean up when the meal was finished.

Serving food at the Salvation Army soup kitchen was just the group’s latest community service project, said Justin Kalinay, a senior and president of the club for the last three years.

The members have helped with landscaping on Federal Plaza, worked with Second Harvest and Gleaners food banks as well as the Rescue Mission, wrapped holiday gifts and caroled, played bingo and socialized at area nursing homes among other things, he said.

One of the biggest recent events was decorating and helping run a Winter Wonderland for about 100 city elementary schoolchildren at Chaney in December.

Plans include a radio auction fundraiser with the Kiwanis and projects with Angels for Animals and the food banks, Kalinay said.

Teacher Richard Scarsella is the club’s adviser.

“It’s actually really fun. It really is,” said Anthony Durkin, a Chaney sophomore and first-year club member. “I would recommend anyone join.”

Most of the club members are involved in other school activities as well, club leader Justin said, pointing out that all eight at Thursday’s event are also members of the Chaney book club.

Randi Green helped make the coffee and wrapped silverware in preparation for the meal.

The most exciting part is: “When we’re serving, we get to meet new people,” said the sophomore and second-year member.

“All my friends were there,” said Megan Holmes, a junior and first-year member, explaining why she joined. “And helping people,” she added, as she stood ready to serve rice and turkey.

Devante Smith, another junior who joined this year, said having a record of community service on one’s resume can be helpful in applying to colleges. Plus, many of her friends are Key Club members, she said.

She’s had some experience in community service in the past, helping at a nursing home when she was in seventh and eighth grades, she said.

“Our friend asked us to join,” said Heather Miller, nodding toward Justin as she and Chelsea Brannon prepared to collect used dinner trays.

Heather, a senior and second-year member as well as club secretary, said the club offers experience in helping others, plus participants get to learn to do a variety of different things in the process.

Chelsea, a sophomore and second-year member, said providing service to the community is important to her.

The young people are encouraged to come and help, said Sarah Cordero, social service caseworker for the Salvation Army.

The Mahoning County Salvation Army Lunch is served every weekday from the 15th to the end of each month, she said.

Brett Vaillancourt, a senior and first-year club member, said joining a service group wasn’t something he had planned to do. It was the convincing recruitment by his good friend, Justin, that persuaded him to sign up.

“He talked me into it,” Brett said, adding that he’s glad he joined.

“It gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside,” he said.

gwin@vindy.com