Peyton Dylla stands behind a fraction of the donations collected for flood victims.
In the small town of La Vernia, Texas, La Vernia FFA members embody the values of FFA. Members understand the FFA platform and motto “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” We are taught that we are only as strong as our community, and when a local community is in need, it is our responsibility to do the right thing.
This past summer, on July 4, a devastating flood on the Guadalupe River ripped through the Texas Hill Country, taking people’s lives and homes. A strong sense of morality came over some local FFA members, who sprang into action to help those in need in the nearby community of Comfort, Texas. With the support and encouragement of their advisor, Aerin Suarez-Schulze, a donation drive was organized within their community of La Vernia. The goal of the donation drive was to collect essential supplies needed to help with the clean-up efforts.
The flyer created for donations.
Flyers were made to post around town, advertising the donation drive. Members also made social media posts informing people of the time and date of the donation drive, along with a list of items to donate. A collection point was set up in front of the local high school. Members created signs and stood near the road in front of the high school, holding signs to remind people to stop and donate. The community of La Vernia showed great support, and within two hours, two truckloads of essential supplies had been donated, along with money and gift cards totaling over $600.
Peyton Dylla (right) stands with the two truckloads of supplies collected.
The truckloads of supplies, money, and gift cards were delivered the next day to the pharmacy in Comfort, Texas, where the donations would be distributed locally. A social media post by Comfort Pharmacy showed their appreciation: “Natural disasters such as the one our community has endured go far beyond county lines. These teenagers, although not personally affected, felt the overwhelming need to help, and they showed up in a huge way….Words cannot express how grateful our community is to have such caring people like you! Thank you for sharing your generous hearts with our Texas Hill Country!”
These FFA members learned the impact “Living to Serve” can have. FFA member Peyton Dylla told the La Vernnia newspaper shortly after the donation drive, “… I hope to bring relief and, more importantly, hope. Hope that things can get better, that they’re not alone, and that God is with them even in the darkest times.”
Giving back through community service projects is an obligation to society. La Vernia FFA met that obligation head-on and hopes to do more community service projects like this to help communities in need.
