People from Vine Academy got pledges to walk four miles, representing the distance women and children have to walk to get to water.

Photo courtesy Vine Academy
Students participate in an ice bucket challenge.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

After studying the water cycle this year, students in the physical science class at Vine Academy in Gilroy, were tasked with organizing a charity campaign for CharityWater.org, a nonprofit organization that helps people in other countries in need of clean water.

Women and children daily travel as far as four miles, just to get to dirty, unhealthy water and carry it in 40 pound jugs back home. The lack of clean water causes sickness and death. Four thousand children die each day from unsafe drinking water. CharityWater.Org works with these communities to find sustainable ways to meet their water needs.

To raise funds for the campaign, the class had a rally day for students. At the rally day they talked about the need for clean water, set up water jug relays for people to experience carrying 40 pounds of water, and ran carnival games. Don’t worry, the total amount of water “wasted” was less than two people taking the average shower in the U.S. and they used the opportunity to water the grass.

On March 12, they also did a water walk at Harvey Bear Ranch County Park. At the Walk for Water people from Vine Academy got pledges to walk four miles, representing the distance women and children have to walk to get to water. Their motto is: “We’re walking so they don’t have to.”  Some ran, some walked, but they all had the goal of helping others. On that day they raised $340 from in-person donations alone. The final fundraiser consisted of auctioning student created greeting cards and art projects (including custom wooden boomerangs that actually worked!), hand-painted canvases, and homemade baked goods. These three events raised more than $2,000, more than double the goal of $1,000.

“Doing the Charity Water project has been so eye opening for me,” said ninth grader Trinity. “I use clean water for everything, every day, and to think some people have just a small amount of unclean water is so disheartening. If giving money to a trustworthy cause will help these people, I’m all for it. I can’t wait for these communities to get the water they need. We’ve worked so hard, and I’m glad all the hard work is going to pay off.”

“I believe that this campaign was a huge success,” said eighth grader Ronan. “It was amazing to see so many people come together to contribute to a great cause. I learned we can do good things if we don’t wait and start doing.”

If you would like to support this cause or the efforts of Vine Academy students, go to www.charitywater.org/amber-ebert.

The campaign runs until April 6.

Jolie Higgins

Jolie Higgins joined Westmont of Morgan Hill as Executive Director in 2021 after more than 23 years of experience in senior living services. Higgins started her career in 1999 at Atria Senior Living as a business office manager for seven years, managing accounting and human resources. She was promoted to senior executive director in 2006. In 2010, Higgins moved to Integral Senior Living where she developed a Diabetic Care Management Program and launched a Transitions Program to assist seniors not ready for memory care to stay engaged and active through a program of mini-mental exams.

“I am pleased to work with such a great team and with a great group of residents,” said Higgins. “I look forward to exceeding the needs of the residents as we move away from the pandemic and back to normal living.” Higgins is a San Jose native.

Welcome to Morgan Hill, Jolie. We hope you enjoy helping our local senior citizens.

George Huang

CalFire recently announced the appointment of Chief George Huang to Unit Chief of the Santa Clara Unit, effective March 15. Under the city of Morgan Hill’s partnership with CalFire, Chief Huang will also serve as the Fire Chief for Morgan Hill Fire. Chief Jake Hess has served as the Morgan Hill Fire Chief for the past three and a half years and has been promoted to the position of 2 Star Chief of Northern California overseeing several units in 22 counties and CalFire Northern Region Administration in Santa Rosa.

“We are excited to have Chief Huang join our Morgan Hill leadership team and look forward to the continued excellent fire service under his leadership,” said Morgan Hill City Manager Christina Turner. “While we are sad to see Chief Hess go, we are grateful that he continues to serve Morgan Hill and much of California in his new role.”

Congratulations, Chief Huang, in your new position as a fire fighter.