Four local high school students found it in their hearts to raise money and give school supplies to a father’s support group in Watts on May 15. After reading a newspaper article about Project Fatherhood, a two-year-old support group for ex-gang members and drug dealers, the students decided to take on a project to help keep the fathers from engaging in criminal activities to support their own children in school.
St. Joseph High School freshmen, Kellie Anderson, 15, from Rossmoor, Sophia Guggiana, 15, from Long Beach, Jil Jarcia, 14, from Cypress and Kathryn Sunderman, 15, from Signal Hill thought it would be a perfect semester service project to the help out the community. The girls collected more than $400 by going door-to-door to Rossmoor residents, cashing in what they collected to purchase notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers and index cards at the 99 Cent Store. One Rossmoor donor, generously donated $100 to the girl’s efforts.
“The girls didn’t want the fathers to commit crimes, and wanted to give them peace of mind on their journey, not worrying about purchasing school supplies for their children,” said Kathryn’s mother, Maria Sunderman.
“We read the newspaper and were trying to figure out what service project to do,” said Kathryn. “We have to do one service project a semester that takes at least 15 hours,” said Jil. “We spent at least 15 hours.”
With an escort from the Los Angeles Police Department in Southeast Division to Jordan Downs, the girls brought their donations, which were gratefully accepted and appreciated by approximately 30 fathers. The girls spent a lot of time garnishing donations door-to-door, purchasing supplies then getting them to Project Fatherhood with parental help. There they met with Project Coordinator, John King, Group Elder, Mike Cummings and UCLA professor/psychologist Jorja Leap, Ph.D., and were given t-shirts while having their pictures taken.
“Going there and delivering the supplies, the girls got a lot out of this,” said Kellie’s mother, Janet Anderson.“ She said at first she was a little apprehensive about the girls going, but the police escort made her feel better. Maria Sunderman arranged the escort ahead of time and took the girls to Watts. The girls also got a private tour of the police department as well.
“My favorite part was seeing the father’s reaction to bringing them the supplies,” said Sophia. “They lit up with excitement.” “You could see how grateful they were,” said Kathryn.
Coincidently, just before taking the supplies, all the girls had tried out for their school’s cheerleading squad that same day, but they were more excited about Project Fatherhood although they were waiting to hear how tryouts went. On the way back home, they got a call saying they all had made it into varsity cheerleading. “It was like they did something good, and something good came back to them,” said Sunderman.
“We will remember this as a learning experience,” said Kellie.