Student Life Volunteers
By: Nicole Sanchez
Updated: June 22, 2007
Some of them had never even heard of San Angelo Texas but that didn't stop them from coming here to make a difference. The Student Life Volunteers come from North Little Rock Arkansas repairing a San Angeloan's home. “Like in the Bible, Jesus says, 'Do unto others as you would want to do yourself'," 17 year old Student Life Volunteer Preston Stroble says.
Over a dozen teenagers from North Little Rock, Arkansas are here in San Angelo serving others.
“It’s really a blessing in disguise I just really thank God for these kids,” homeowner’s sister Dixie Sloan says.
These kids are in conjunction with Student Life Volunteers, a faith based Christian Camp taking place at ASU this week gathering campers from all across the nation.
Executive Director for Rebuilding Together, Elizabeth Little says, “They contact non-profit organizations across in the local where our camp is going to be held and ask if they need assistance. In addition to the camp time they also come out and do 16-18 hours of community service during their time.”
“It’s a break to get away and also feels good and feels great to do something, I like summer sitting at home watching TV but when I look back this is the stuff I remember and make a difference,” Preston says.
This volunteer repair team is on Alamo Street constructing a wheelchair ramp for 69 year old Mr. Hogue whose family is preparing for his home arrival after 5 months of treatments for his knee.
“He’s going to be in a wheel chair now the rest of his life because he’s had 5 knee surgeries on his knee,” Preston says. The Hogue family has desperately needed this ramp for 2 years and with the help of these teens this will allow him to enter the home without the struggle he’s had in the past.
“It wasn’t easy we practically had to hold him and carry him in and when we first brought him home from the hospital and he couldn’t walk on his knees, so are neighbors from across the streets. He would come over here and he helped us get him in,” Preston says.
Although these volunteers may never meet Mr. Hague, knowing that one day they could be in the same shoes as him makes this job for them even more meaningful.
Preston says, "Hopefully one day I might be old and I might be in a wheel chair too and just looking and thinking about how we do good things."
Barring any complications, Mr. Hogue is expected to return home in 2 weeks.

