Kids Helping Kids is a club started at Upper St. Clair High School aimed at helping kids in the Pittsburgh area and different parts of the world. . Kids Helping Kids has around 50 active volunteers who are always willing to help.
In January of this year, one of the teachers involved, Mr. Russ Hoburg, and a group of about 20 students paid a visit to the Dominican Republic and did a lot of different things. They were busy throughout the week as they visited an orphanage and gave them English lessons, visited a Haitian community and painted with them, went to a rural Dominican village and helped build a water tower, and planted trees around the area.
The students attending the trip were busy and it was not much of a vacation. The students hope that they had an impact on the area and that they were able to help a lot of people. However, their impact wasn’t just seen in things being physically built, it was more profound in the personal connections that were created throughout the trip. As Mr. Hoburg put it, “ I think one of the big things that can’t be underestimated is the person-to-person connection. The work isn’t done by any means but the bonds are established with the community which is one of the biggest parts for me.” Not only are they putting the community at a starting point where they could begin to see significant improvements, but they were able to start building personal relationships with members of the community which might mean even more.
Another big component of the Kids Helping Kids is their presence in the Pittsburgh community. The club has built connections with the Ronald McDonald House and other service organizations in the area. Recently, a group of 8 students went early in the morning to the Ronald McDonald House and helped to make breakfast for the people living there. As one of the attendants to the House on Saturday Junior Brady Bernard said, “I witnessed the helplessness of people staying at the hospital and it felt really good to help them. Even though it was just a single meal, it leaves a big impact on them and didn’t make me do a whole lot.”
Kids Helping Kids is a great club for those interested in helping people and creating a real impact in the community. As sophomore Dylan Childs said, “I joined KHK at freshman rush and I’ve never looked back. I love it. Joining has made me feel a better sense of community, and seeing the smiles on people’s faces when we help is priceless.”.
If you are interested in joining the Kids Helping Kids group contact Mr. Hoburg for more information.