TRENTON — They vowed to keep in touch and wouldn’t dare call it “goodbye.”
There was a flood of tears when Trenton’s AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team loaded up in its van to depart from the town.
The group of nine volunteers from various cities across the United States spent two months in Trenton working on beautification projects and with Jones Middle School students.
The connection the team made with the children was visible as the Knights hugged each AmeriCorps member upon exiting the school’s gymnasium Monday.
There was an exchange of hugs, laugher and tears.
“We know we touched their lives just like they touched ours,” said Julia Warden, a member from Southern California. “Jones Middle School will always hold a place in my heart.”
During their two-month stay, AmeriCorps members cleared debris from Trenton streets, refurbished landmarks and tutored Jones Middle students.
The volunteer program did not cost the city a dime, and the exchangeable impact marked by their visit was priceless.
“Their infectious personalities have pulled Trenton together,” said Trenton Mayor Darlene Spivey, who attended the farewell ceremony, held in the middle school’s gym. “The town is better because of them. We were lucky. I think we got a very special group.”
She and her husband shared a group hug with the team before the members boarded the bus for departure.
“I think they love us, and they like Trenton,” said Spivey, who said their 1,200 hours of service is visible throughout the town.
She added, “I had never had a lot of interaction with the schools before. I think now, Michael’s and I relationship will make a difference.”
Michael White, Jones Middle principal, said during a talent show the AmeriCorps team coordinated, people who had not previously supported the school showed up.
“It was very neat,” said White, himself a former AmeriCorps member. “It was a breath of fresh air for my kids to see young people come in and work the town. They worked the streets of Trenton and made it a beautiful place.”
Hundreds of students lined up to watch the AmeriCorps members drive away, most of their faces streaming with tears.
“It’s very emotional,” said student Brekeail Sanders, 12. “They’ve only been here for two months, and its so crazy how you can fall in love with some people that you don’t know … in two months. They’ve been so nice to me, and I love them.”
She buried her face in the chests of AmeriCorps team members as she exited the gym, while they encouraged her not to cry.
As each of the students said goodbye, team members whispered support, often telling the kids, “You’re going to do great things.”
Joy Wynne, the school’s administrative assistant, said she’s seen how astounding the visit has been for the students.
“They’ve had an experience of a lifetime right here with one-on-one interaction with people who truly believe in them,” she said. “It’s been a great thing for them to see that the world is so much bigger than Jones County.”
Chris Grandon of Dallas, Texas, said the team, on their first leg of a four-round journey, will stay in touch with White, Spivey and the students.
“It’s really hard because you put all that you’ve got into these kids,” he said. “You see how they grow, you love them, you care about them and it’s hard to say goodbye.”
Member Taylor Lawrence said the team came wanting to make a difference, but left Monday with much more.
She said the students that were initially the hardest to connect to were the ones getting the most worked up.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” said Lawrence, 21, about the departure. “It’s bittersweet that we make these connections and now we have to leave. Trenton, North Carolina has changed my life.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
The 2013 AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Trenton Round Team:
George Acosta, 18, Pennsylvania
Mario Bruce, 19, Illinois
Taylor Lawrence, 21, Tennessee
Kate McNeill, 24, Michigan
Keyera Pettiford, 19, Michigan
Cassandra Santos, 23, Massachusetts
Juia Warden, 20, California
Kyle Warren, 23, California