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Sandbaggers at work

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They call themselves the Sandbaggers, and they’re on a mission.

The small group of Ramona High School students with teachers Cyndy Powell and Steve Koch converged on the fire station off Dye Road to fill sandbags after school on Monday. From there, they headed to Fern and Stanley Smith’s home at 728 Cedar St.

During last week’s storms, “we couldn’t get out of the house the mud was so thick,” Stanley said.

Despite preparations such as setting up sandbags and even stacking cases of bottled water to stop mud and debris from going through their garage and onto their front walkway, the mud came.

“We did the best we could,” said Stanley, who is disabled.

His wife has had back and neck surgery and recently had shoulder surgery.

Powell, an English teacher, lives nearby.

“They are my neighbors,” she said between unloading sandbags and shoveling mud from the Smiths’ driveway. “She was out there shoveling, and she just had shoulder surgery.”

That’s when Powell had the seed of a plan to get the community involved in helping those who could use a helping hand, particularly the elderly, those who are ill, and others without the resources to do it themselves.

She shared the idea at school, and it took off. Critical issues teacher Steve Koch said his students could choose this toward community service hours he requires. Jim Plum, high school counselor and adviser for Ramona High’s Fusion students, also is involved.

“This could actually be a club and it could actually benefit the community,” said Powell.

Nine students energetically shoveled mud outside the Smiths’ home, but judging by their enthusiasm it meant more than community service hours to them.

Several of the students were in neither Powell’s nor Koch’s classes, and they were not there for community service credit.

“Some were just there to help,” said Powell.

“If this happened at my house, I’d want someone to help me,” said Ramona High junior Sarah Carmichael, noting she was there “to help out the community.”

“A lot of people like to just help out,” she added.

The Sandbaggers spent two hours on the project — one loading sandbags and one clearing mud. They used the mud to create two berms so water will run off the property the next time a heavy rain comes.

“This is an awfully good turn,” Stanley Smith said. “Thank you all very much.”

Before the school crew left, his wife came out with juice and cookies.

“She was so happy when we left,” said Powell. She was almost in tears.”

The students, too, appeared happy as they enjoyed the cookies and looked at what they had accomplished, added Powell.

“This is just our first go-round,” said Powell, a Ramona teacher for 16 years. “We’re hoping it will catch on.”

Community members interested in participating or donating a wheelbarrow and/or shovels — round and flat — may contact Powell at cyndyp33@gmail.com or 760-505-4821.

Anyone needing assistance clearing mud and/or other flood damage from their homes also may contact Powell.

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