Gentlemen-in-the-making make generous donation

One can only imagine the terror City Schools of Decatur (CSD) Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School (F.Ave) Spanish teacher Lina Penuela felt after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Aug. 10 -specifically causing catastrophic damage to the city of Cali, where some of her family members reside. 

At press time, approximately 290 people had died, with 140 more missing and nearly 4,000 more injured, according to official estimates reported by The Jersulam Times. More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira, news reports indicate.  

After Penuela found out her family was safe, she said she learned that first responders still desperately searching for the missing needed N95 masks. When she approached Derrick Thomas, principal of F.Ave, to ask if she could put out a box to collect donations of the lifesaving equipment, he saw it as an opportunity to call on the G.E.N.T.S. 

Thomas, who leads the school’s G.E.N.T.S. club (Gentlemen Excelling with the Necessary Tools for Success), recognized an opportunity for the group to put into practice the leadership and community-building they learn as part of the student mentorship program. 

Like the Gotham City Police Department turning on the Bat Signal to summon Batman, Thomas said he quickly tapped into four F.Ave students who were returning members of G.E.N.T.S.; Hayden Kenner, Hurston Kenner, Tyson Meeks, and Zayden Pankiewicz.  

Thomas then emailed a request for mask donations to F. Ave parents and staff, with a 24-hour deadline. Within one day, the G.E.N.T.S. collected more than 800 donated N95 masks, thanks to the generosity of the community. Penuela then delivered the masks to the donation center for shipment. 

“We’re always willing to help, but to know one of our own staff members was affected by the earthquake made it even more urgent for us. The G.E.N.T.S. felt a true sense of pride knowing they were helping people in need,” said Thomas. 

The community is proud of you as well, G.E.N.T.S.; your actions are truly heroic.