On Thursday, 5 February 2026, the English 12 class visited Cheyenne’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore for a day of community service, learning firsthand about Habitat’s mission and the many ways volunteers can support the organization.
Ashlie Vassar, Volunteer Coordinator for the Cheyenne Habitat for Humanity, was impressed by the number of students ready to get to work. “This is a huge help, and really a privilege, to have you all here.”
After the briefest of tours, the students got busy.
During the visit, Triumph students assisted with a massive donation from Amazon: 28 pallets containing more than 40 2”x3” boxes of a variety of home goods, pet supplies, stationery, and more. Each item had to be identified, priced for the ReStore, and sorted into the correct boxes for staff and volunteers to process. The work was fast-paced, physical, and collaborative — and students rose to the challenge.
“I didn’t know what to expect; it wasn’t that – but it was fun!” said Trinity Munoz. Israel Rivera added, “What I know is I worked. It felt good.”
For many students, the experience went beyond physical labor. Justice Wake Pino reflected, “It was a good time, learning about the community. You learn about places in need, and it compels you to be a part of it. It felt good to do some good, you know?”
Students also commented on the power of teamwork. “It was interesting to work with other people,” said Chloe Hemingway. “Normally I like to work with my circle of friends, but everyone was working together. We got a lot done and it was fun to do it together.” Another volunteer remarked that it was like watching a horde of ants; many hands making for light work.
Some students connected the experience to their future goals and interests. Ava Camara shared, “It makes me want to work at other places, to kind of see what other spots in the community could use some help.” Madi Whorten added, “I had a great time. I really like organizing, so this was a good experience for me.”
Lorena Carranza reflected on her initial doubts: “I was a little nervous at first, because I was, like, what is this place? But once we got started it was very busy. We worked hard and it felt good.” Damien Padilla summed up the scale of the project simply: “There was so much donated. Like, how are we gonna get through it all? But we did.”
By the end of the day, students left not only with tired muscles, but with a deeper understanding of community need, collective effort, and service. Many students expressed interest in future partnerships at other community nonprofits and support centers, especially in areas such as pediatrics, animal care, and culinary service, continuing Triumph’s commitment to meaningful community engagement through its Leave to Learn experiences.
