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When Alicia Hernandez was forced to evacuate her apartment because of an over-application of pesticide, she and her family, along with nine other families, moved across the street and into the old Rogers School gymnasium while the problem was resolved.
"We were devastated, having lost everything we owned," she said.
When Hernandez, who had been a student at Rogers years ago, and her three children and husband went back to their apartment a week later, boxes of clothes, food and other necessities were piled up in front of the door.
"We had nothing and that wonderful gift from the Rogers family allowed us to move on," she said.
A stay-at-home mom at the time, she decided to donate her time to Rogers School as a thank you. Initially, she provided translation services to the many families of children who attend the magnet school.
Two years ago, when Rogers moved into its new building and became an interdistrict magnet school with an International Baccalaureate program, Hernandez stepped up her volunteerism by organizing a food pantry for the families who need extra help.
As a state-funded interdistrict school, Rogers must accept at least 25 percent of its student body from underprivileged families.
In January, the food pantry was a full-time yearlong operation, and Alicia Hernandez was a full-time employee who also helped families with questions about insurance and clothing.
"Many families can't afford the uniforms so we set up a clothing recycling center at the school where families can come in at any time and pick up uniforms, coats and even shoes," she said. "My reward is seeing these people get the help they need just like Rogers helped us when we really needed it."
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