Students find rewards

On Fridays, Aubree Neville and Leland Wallace can be found at Bridge Street Bargains turning outdated furniture into works of art.

Neville and Wallace volunteered at Bridge Street Bargains to raise money for Close-Up.

Jack Patrick, the Close-Up advisor, recommended his students volunteer at the shop to earn money for their trip to Washington D.C. in April.

Neville and Wallace have been working at the store since December and they have raised the money for their trips, but they enjoyed it so much, they now donate their time.

Other Close-Up students have been working at the store, too. The students have set up a Facebook account, created a gmail account and set up a phone for the store. The number is 307-710-1037.

The students are also using Pinterest for ideas on how to update the furniture and lamps.

“The kids are using what they learned in Linda Fisher-Perue’s art class,” volunteer Chris Lamprecht said.

The students have been working on a program called Trash to Treasure in the art class and have transferred what they learned to the store.

“Chris lets us take an idea and run with it,” Neville said.

Garrett and Heather Wallace, Leland’s siblings were at the store two weeks ago. It was their first time helping their brother and Neville.

“We like it so much,” Garrett said, we want to continue to help.”

Heather said she was excited because she learned how to use a cash register.

Neville said she has learned a lot and the volunteer work looks good on her college application.

“We learn how to work with people,” Neville said. Neville has also met several community members she would not have met while volunteering at the store.

“It’s a lot of fun.” Neville said.

Lamprecht said there are more Close-Up students this year than in year’s past and Patrick had approached her about his students volunteering.

She has had students come and go over the past several months. “The boys will come in and dust shelves and vacuum,” Lamprecht said.

“It is good to get them volunteering in the community.”

Student raises money for Teton Science Trip

Becca Hayward is raising money for her Teton Science Trip this spring. She has earned $307 towards her trip.

The eighth-grade student moved to Saratoga in June.

“My parents offered to pay for half the trip,” Hayward said. “I’ve earned enough money.” Her parents only have to pay $87 to help her out.

The 13-year-old girl took advise from teacher Luke Spiering to talk to Chris Lamprecht at Bridge Street Bargains about volunteering at the non-profit shop.

The advice has paid off in more ways than raising money for her trip. In addition to earning $220 working on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school and on Fridays and Saturdays when she can. Hayward learned how a retail store works.

Hayward said she also learned Saratoga has a caring community.

Raising the money herself helped her family, too. Her mother, Amanda Ten Eyck is expecting a baby in March and her stepdad Derek Ten Eyck is being deployed shortly after the baby is due.

Derek will leave for training in the Navy Reserves and then go to Afghanistan for nine months.

Hayward met Lamprecht when she and Lori Cooksey, an educational aide at Saratoga Middle/High school, when they stopped at Bridge Street Bargains to sell raffle tickets.

After talking with Lamphrect, Hayward started working at the store and has been there for three weeks now.

Hayward also raised money working at the concession stand during the Lady Panther basketball games at the middle/high school.

Since working at Bridge Street Bargains, Hayward has learned how to use a cash register, how to arrange clothing and items for sale and reorganize a retail space.

She also had an opportunity meet a lot of people including the ladies who come in for coffee and treats in the afternoon.

Hayward said she would like to be a lawyer after graduating from college. She would like to be the first woman president.

Considering that it will be 22 years before she is eligible for the presidency, she said it would be a disappointment if she did not get to be the first woman president, but she would still want to be president, regardless.