By William Cramp Fit Flyer reporters | Several teachers at William Cramp Elementary School spend time outside of school helping others, according to recent interviews with Fit Flyer reporters. “I like helping people because it’s good for the community,” said Ms. Cabeza, William Cramp math schoolbased teacher leader (SBTL).
Volunteering is not just good for the community, it’s good for the volunteers as well, according to the Mayo Clinic Health System, a group of U.S. hospitals that also do research. Volunteering helps you make new friends and can make you feel less lonely, said the Mayo Clinic.
It “improves your physical and mental health,” and “reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Volunteering can also reduce your risk of illness, heart disease, depression and anxiety. “Volunteers report better physical health than non-volunteers,” said the Mayo Clinic.
Ms. Cabeza said she coaches cheerleaders in her second job. Because of this, she has many opportunities to get involved with helping others. She got involved with an Alopecia Areata Walk to raise awareness for the health condition because her brother has had it since he was 5 years old, according to Ms. Cabeza, and because organizers of the event asked for volunteers. Alopecia Areata is a “disease that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and elsewhere on the body,” according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Ms. Cabeza said she also has volunteered for the Bucks County Challenger program, teaching football and cheerleading to athletes with special needs. Ms. Cabeza said you should enjoy volunteering.
Mrs. Gates, ELA (English/Language Arts) SBTL said she started volunteering as a kid at clothing drives. She said everyone should get involved and help their communities. “About 10 years ago, a couple of moms got together to help families in need of food,” Mrs. Gates said. So, they started a food drive. She recommends volunteering because she thinks everyone should help support people in their communities.
Ms. Tooley, math intervention teacher, said she was a volunteer as a kid in sixth grade. She said she used to help younger students who had special needs and she would help first graders get on the bus. This is why she became a teacher, she said. Now she said she helps food banks and helps her neighbor’s animals, by feeding and taking care of them when their owner is not home. These experiences have been very meaningful to her, she said. “Find something that you’re interested in and try finding a way to help people in need,” Ms. Tooley suggested.
Illustration by Aloe, 5th grade, William Cramp, 2025-2026.
