The Impact of the Create Club on the Community

The Advisor, President, and Vice President of the Create Club tell us a little bit about themselves and talk about how the club brings joy to children and others around them.

By: Ruby Houser

The Create Club’s officers and advisor share about themselves and the impacts they are able to make for the community through the club.

Jacky Illan, ‘26, is a part of Mock Trial. She recently joined the theater, and she likes volunteering and participating in other things as well. Illan is the Vice President of the Create club.

“I think when [we] went to Goshen Elementary for Christmas [and] we had a little thing where we made coloring books and we gave them out hot chocolate, and all the kids were really excited about it. I think that’s been my favorite part of the club,” said Illan.

Illan said, “I really like the community part of it. All these people gathering to give back, and it’s really nice that so many people really care about giving back to the children and all that.”

Illan loves seeing the impact that the Create Club has on the children, and how much the children enjoy it. She also loves giving back to the children and seeing how happy they are about receiving something.

Elsa Wendt, ’26, and is the President of the Create Club. She loves helping out the community as well as being involved with the school.

Wendt said, “The purpose of the club is to basically make them feel loved through our crafts and projects that we hold. It’s pretty much why I still continue it.”

“Honestly, having the hands-on projects where we go to the schools themselves and deliver the crafts. It’s really uplifting and heart-warming to see how happy the kids become,” said Wendt when she was asked what her favorite part of being a part of the club was.

Wendt really wants to make a positive impact on the community, especially for the kids. She believes that while they are still young, it’s super important for them to feel loved and have a good vibe around them.

Wendt said, “I feel connected because when I was a little girl, I would receive crafts that would really inspire m,e and to this day, I still think about how it made me feel special by the community and more intertwined with the community. So that’s why I feel like I can connect to these little kids in life.”

Mr. Adam Higareda is a teacher here at Redwood. He teaches U.S. History and Law. Mr. Higareda is the Create Club adviser and loves to be involved in different clubs.

Mr. Higareda said, “My favorite memory is when they did the mugs for the office staff, because they made mugs for each one of the office staff workers who don’t normally get recognized when it comes to stuff. There was teacher day and there’s admin day, but there’s not like secretary day and stuff that the students reconize. But seeing the positive responses of receiving the mugs was really cool.”

Mr. Higareda talked about how Wendt and Illan came up to him and asked if he’d be up for hosting the Create Club.

“I love watching students thrive in new environments, so for the leadership of this club, they have coordinated lots of giveaways and crafts days and stuff. They coordinated all these things, and they’re taking on leadership roles not just within their own peers, but also with the admin staff and all other stuff, and I just really like seeing them do that,” said Mr. Higareda.

Mr. Higareda said, “I feel connected because all the students are positive, and they are all there for the right reason. So to me it’s just a very welcoming environment.”

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