GrowPoint Church in Amherst stages a holiday party, but congregants receive the real gift as school volunteers
December 21, 2023 | Penelope Cosme’s wish list this holiday season is very specific: top of the list is a cool Bratz doll, another Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, and a pair of rollerblades because twirling around Lorain Skate World has sparked a bug in her to roll instead of walking whenever possible.
On Thursday, Stevan Dohanos Elementary School students tore into gift bags filled with red and green tissue paper, revealing treasures inside. Penelope, a bright-eyed second-grade student, let out a scream of delight above the high energy of the gymnasium.
“This is exactly what I wanted,” Penelope exclaimed as she held up Tiana, a Bratz doll dressed in hot pink glittery pants and a fur shawl.
She then delved into the bag for more and pulled out a book in the popular series that is now 19 books deep.
“I will definitely read this over break,” she said. 
In the gym, circling the kids with beaming smiles were members of GrowPoint Church. They know these students well, as many congregation members also volunteer daily in the school. However, seeing their simple wishes fulfilled was still pretty emotional.
The story of how GrowPoint Church adopted Stevan Dohanos Elementary and staged a colossal holiday party with gifts for every one of the school’s 297 students began a few years ago.
It was a lucky coincidence that Deshuk, looking for volunteers for her school, met members of GrowPoint Church also searching for a way to give back to the community. The congregation was still determining where to go to fulfill their desire to serve, but meeting Deshuk quickly opened doors to a relationship that, years later, positively impacts the school.
GrowPoint Pastor Josh Smith pointed out that the relationship is not just about parties and gifts. Although the one staged the day before students left for winter break was spectacular with holiday balloons, decorations, members dressed in fun costumes, and three game stations. One fifth-grade student, Jeyniel Rodriguez, was the lucky winner of a Nintendo Switch grand prize.
“We've really chosen or been led to be deeply connected to this school, to this community, and it's been an evolving relationship through the years,” Smith said. “We have anywhere from 25 to 30 weekly volunteers who will come, and they are spread throughout the week. The wonderful part is that you have individuals who work in those different classrooms and can see their kids.”
Pastor Smith added, “So it's been fun to watch as the students come in and as they recognize their faces. There's just that added connection that is just so profoundly unique. And so, yes, this is fun and a highlight for our volunteers, even our church family. But I would say it's a gift to see the larger story of the students’ lives. And that only comes with time with them in the classrooms.”
Principal Deshuk, alternating her time Thursday between leading her building – nothing truly stops lunchroom duty – and fighting back tears of joy, said the intricacies of the party went beyond gift buying. Her students walked away feeling special, seen, and loved.
“Every child is interviewed one-on-one, and their Christmas wish list is given to them in a bag,” Ms. Deshuk said. “They are more than just volunteers. They are there for any needs that we have here in the school. They give their time. They volunteer during the school day. We need them for any events. They are here.
“They help with student engagement. If there's a family in need or any need, we reach out to them, and they're here for us.”
District officials knew there was something special in the unique partnership formed at Stevan Dohanos. That is why, for this school year, using a longstanding program in the Cleveland area as the model, Lorain Schools launched the Adopt-a-School Network to ensure that every school and every student could grow a relationship with a local church or non-profit group.
Intercultural Communications Coordinator Waleska Soto, who heads the training and screening of the Adopt-a-School volunteers, said there are more than 130 volunteers from 14 churches, with every school having volunteers assigned to assist students and staff.
“The most amazing thing is the response from the community. It has been a true gift to see, knowing we had 138 volunteers participating in the three months from August to November, volunteering over 1,100 hours,” Ms. Soto said. “It has been remarkable and consistent.”
The hope is to expand the network to include summer and reading programs and possibly a life skills program.
Pastor Smith said anyone looking to get involved cannot just eye up the big splashy events like the GrowPoint holiday party as their primary contribution.
“We've seen it in ministry where there are outreach efforts that are viewed as projects,” he said. “We make a point that Stevan Dohanos is not our project. They are our family. It makes a huge difference. That's the significance of having volunteers here regularly, not just these highlighted moments throughout the year.”
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