On Friday, December 5, Hospitality Night marked the beginning of the holiday season in Laguna Beach, offering numerous opportunities to support local stores, restaurants, and organizations, including the Laguna Beach High School clubs. With locals and visitors crowding the streets of Laguna Beach, it was the perfect setting for clubs to raise awareness about their causes. Students were able to use Hospitality Night as a means to extend their mission beyond the school’s campus and further enhance their impact on the community.
One of the school clubs that was present that night was Walking for Water. Walking for Water is an extension of the non-profit organization, Wisdom Spring. Wisdom Spring works to support women, orphans, and elephants and wildlife across West Africa and India. Led by Zoe Bartels and Alek Saravia, the co-presidents, Walking for Water helps extend Wisdom Spring’s mission to students in Laguna Beach.
“Our club sold handmade baked goods to raise funds for Wisdom Spring (specifically our project supporting the elephants in Molé National Park of Molé, Ghana) and practiced community outreach,” said Bartels. At Hospitality Night, Walking for Water had a table set up, allowing them to recruit more people to join their cause and show their support for Wisdom Spring. They hoped to raise money and awareness about the club’s cause at Hospitality Night, and it was clear that they had accomplished what they came for, as many people stopped by their table to learn more about what they do.
“Personally, Wisdom Spring’s projects (especially our support of women) are really important to me, and my work in Walking for Water helped me realize my passion for non-profit work and human rights advocacy, which is what I’m planning to pursue in the future. I’m so proud to be co-president this year. Walking for Water is an accessible way for high schoolers to make real change!” Bartels said. When a leader is so inspired, it inspires others to continue their work for the cause or join it. At Hospitality Night, it was clear that Bartels was passionate about Walking for Water’s projects, and it was the reason why so many people stopped by their table to join the cause.
“Donating to any cause connects to the spirit of giving of the holiday season because rather than over-consuming and adding to landfills, real people’s lives are being impacted and improved in ways that we cannot even imagine. We are so fortunate to have what we have. Why not share that with others?” Bartels said. Hospitality Night is a symbol of the holiday season here at Laguna Beach, and the holidays mean only one thing: the spirit of generosity. Many people were inspired by the holiday festivities and the festive atmosphere that Friday night to give back to their community. Clubs given the opportunity to share their cause with the public during Hospitality Night can create a connection between themselves and the rest of the community, spreading their work beyond the school’s campus.
