LENDING A HAND
In the early months of the pandemic , two Laguna Beach High School seniors started a group called Helping Hands to deliver groceries and meals and run errands for elderly residents quarantined at home . Led by Grace Houlahan and Brooks Hogenauer , the group picked up and delivered groceries and prescriptions , among other errands , for those in need . “ My girlfriend , Grace , and I were thinking that it has to be scary for older citizens to go out ,” Hogenauer says . “ Supermarkets were creating time for them to go on their own , but we felt that because we were not doing much as [ high school ] seniors , why not help ?” So , the couple sent out a flyer and recruited five or six of their friends . “ We … got a good response back ,” he says . “ One man didn ’ t feel comfortable hiring a person to help with gardening , so I helped with that , and we ’ ve done a bunch of grocery runs for families . We will continue as long as we get calls . I don ’ t see any reason to end . We are there to help them .”
Brooks Hogenauer and Grace Houlahan started a group called Helping Hands .
Laguna Beach High School seniors were honored wth posters of their likenesses on banners at the LBHS tennis courts . for the 250 senior class members who drove up and down the hill on Park Avenue .
HONORING GRADUATES
While the quarantine was a challenging time for everyone , graduating high school and college students , especially , suffered a loss when their final year was cut short : Spring sports seasons , senior prom and graduation are once-in-alifetime experiences that can never be replaced . In late May , more than 40 Laguna Beach High School staff members voluntarily showed their support by holding up signs for a drive-by cap and gown pickup
“ The leadership team was handing them out in the district parking lot ,” Laguna Beach High School Principal Jason Allemann says . In addition , all seniors who played spring sports or were members of the dance and theater departments and had their seasons or productions interrupted have been honored with posters of their likeness on banners hanging at the high school tennis courts on Park Avenue .
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