Walmart employees spend the day with Junior High students

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Walmart is known for giving back to the community, and on Thursday, they got a little bit more involved.
Walmart associates from Copperas Cove, Killeen, Belton, and Georgetown spent the day with the students at Copperas Cove Junior High School. 
There, associates participated in various classroom activities such as core curriculum classes, learning alongside students, ran with the physical education class, sang with the choir, participated in art class, and even ate lunch in the cafeteria.
Tania Culpepper, manager of the Copperas Cove Walmart, said that the group was volunteering as a celebration of MLK’s Acts of Kindness. 
They held off on volunteering until last week because they didn’t want to interfere with STAAR testing.
“We’re just here to volunteer and give back to the community,” said Culpepper. “A lot of times when you think about volunteering, you think about doing projects or donating money, and that’s ok, but anyone can do that. Assisting with education is very important. That’s an area that a lot of organizations don’t even think about. Spending time with the students is important.”
The Walmart associates were spread throughout the various classroom where they worked alongside the students.
“I always like to give back to the community. I love the kids. I’m excited. This is going to be a lot of fun,” said Heather Risenhoover, co-manager for Georgetown’s Walmart, as she prepared to work with the theater arts students. “I just hope they learn something as we work with them and interact.”
Many of the teachers expressed appreciation of the associates.
“They have been a great help,” said 6th grade art teacher Jenny Bohns about the Walmart associates. “They’ve been really good, very pleasant. It’s been fun. I think it’s a great idea. It brings the community in and gives them an idea of what we’re doing.”
Sixth grade history teacher Gene Turner said that it shows the children that they care.
“The way the students are reflecting is one: somebody cares. It’s not just their teachers, it’s not just their parents, the community actually cares,” said Turner. “Whenever the community gets involved with anything, it brings us back to the old adage, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ The more that the community is aware of what’s going on, both the downfalls and the highlights, the more they can get behind it. The more they are involved, the less friction there will be and better understanding of the teaching process, the learning process, and how they can help…Not only does it generate good will, but it generates understanding.