Smiling faces and hearts filled with hope, Akins has yet again made a difference in someone’s life.

Akins Cares is a group that helps students earn community service hours and help families all around Austin.

“I love helping other people,” sophomore Johnette Williams said. “It helps me get community service hours but its also exciting to make people happy.”

Every Tuesday the club meets to discuss what they will be doing next to help the community out.

Akins Cares has done things like help organize activities for elementary school carnivals at Rodriguez and Blazier, litter pick-ups and serving food for the needy.

“I really like having fun with the little kids, and helping people out at the same time,” freshman Jerry Castro said.

English teacher Erika San Miguel created the group to help students spread the passion of volunteering across the campus.

“When I became a teacher it seemed like a perfect platform to ignite a passion for helping others in my students, to really carry the effort forward to the next generation,” San Miguel said

The students are doing a Holiday Celebration at Dove Springs, which includes a lake clean-up and also participating in coats for kids.

“Everyone should volunteer and help change the world one step at a time,” Williams said.

These students donate their time to help the needy and it’s more than just earning community service hours, it’s seeing the looks on people’s faces when they receive food, or something to keep them warm in the winter.

“Every person, every hour makes a difference to those in need,” San Miguel said. “It may not seem like you’re doing much to solve world hunger, but to the child who gets to eat a meal, who hadn’t eaten for days, that can of food makes a world of difference.”

Helping out people who need it more than they do is their main goal.

“It is amazing to help out people less fortunate then me,” Castro said. “I really enjoy it.”

From people who are homeless to people who just show up because there is food, these students make a difference in each person’s life.

“It helps and reminds me to be a better person,” sophomore Alyssa Garcia said. “Seeing people who have a terrible life and getting something that will really help them is amazing.”

Akins Cares enjoys helping people but also takes pride in the fact that they do not need anything in return.

“I don’t expect anything in return, just a thank you and a smile makes it all worth it.” Garcia said.