Lee vocational program teaches students job, social skills

ALBANY — While many were having their first cup of coffee on a recent Monday morning, students from Lee County High School’s community-based vocational instruction class was hard at work sorting, sifting and bagging at the Lord’s Pantry in Albany.

Students could be observed breaking and bagging treats, cleaning as they went to make their volunteer time that much more efficient.

C.B. Fincher, a volunteer at the Lord’s Pantry, said the work that the students put in on a regular basis is truly invaluable.

“We depend upon them tremendously,” Fincher said.” Especially when we have bulk stuff that has to be bagged up. It’s hard for things like this to be passed out to individuals unless it’s broken down into smaller packages. They do a marvelous job.”

In 2015, the Lord’s Pantry served more than 2,500 people. In serving the city of Albany, 52,853 pieces of clothing were donated and 15,041 bags/boxes of groceries were given. With that many goods coming in and out of the location, Fincher said it becomes that much more important to have young volunteers who are eager to help and willing to do whatever is necessary to make the operation run smoothly. The students come back three to four times a year, helping to put out clothes, process donations and sort donations when needed.

Participants in the vocational instruction program have varying degrees of disabilities but can still be seen volunteering at Darton State College, the Leesburg Animal Hospital, KMart and several other places in the Albany/Leesburg area. Linda Floyd, a teacher at Lee County High School and the coordinator of the program, said that students who participate in the program are not only gaining valuable work experience, but they’re improving social skills by socializing with their peers and members of the community. She said she’s been able to see growth in her entire class.

“I’ve seen the students come out more, personalitywise,” she said. “Some that were shy and wouldn’t talk, now they come into a place of business where they’re going to work and they will interact with the other employees.”

One such student is senior Andy Martin. When he’s not busy on the sidelines assisting the Lee County basketball team, Martin is busy lending a helping hand around Albany. He’s been in the vocational instruction program for two years and said he’s been able to apply the lessons learned to his everyday life.

“I’ve learned a lot from this, and it’s going to help me in the future to get a job,” Andy said. “I’m enjoying this, and I’ve learned a lot from my senior year of 2014-2015 to this year. And (Floyd) teaching us all these jobs and working together, it’s actually gotten me a lot to do at home. I’ve been working at home now and all of that.”

Floyd noted that attitudes such as the one displayed by Martin’s lead establishments to welcome students in the program with open arms.

“Every place we go just loves them,” she said. “They go in there, they work hard and they help with a lot of tasks.”

With the school year coming to a close, students in the program will continue to volunteer until summer vacation officially begins.