The holiday spirit of volunteerism part 2

A Scranton, Pennsylvania high school student was profiled on his volunteer work for a Christmas time story. Adam Schroth traveled to Belize to help families build stoves and wells. Schroth attends Scranton Prep school where they require seniors to do service for graduation.

From The Scranton Times Tribune, writer Joby Fawcett asks Schroth about his time in Belize.

Before he even headed to Belize, Schroth had an idea that what he would encounter would hardly resemble life at home.

Once there, he saw the poverty, but the outgoing personalties of the people who endured the more than 100-degree temperatures, the gravel roadways and the tiny living quarters overwhelmed him.

The students had to be mindful of scorpions, snakes and many other animals. They walked more than three miles to and from work.

After the sun went down, Schroth and his classmates - Paul Byrne and Jimmy FitzPatrick, who are also players for the Cavaliers - slept in hammocks with bed nets draped around them for protection from mosquitos and the malaria they could carry.

Yet he endured and enjoyed every minute he got to spend with his family and the eager and energetic children.

"Basically, we lived with a family in small huts and helped them build water reserves and stoves," Schroth said. "I didn't know what to expect. I knew it was going to be intense. I was somewhat nervous, but also very eager.

"I couldn't believe the way they were living in those huts. They were 10-feet long and 4- or 5-feet wide. The village was so isolated, but the people were so gracious and so nice."