 | A power house of a volunteer, Gina Lazo, believes that KaBOOM! playgrounds serve as the nucleus of a community, bringing together individuals of all ages. Gina has participated in several builds with KaBOOM! and is in awe of the organization’s ability to make such an incredible impact on the children and their community in such a short amount of time. She added that the unique aspect of the KaBOOM! playgrounds is that they bring individuals of various ages and backgrounds together.
Q. Why do you love KaBOOM!?
A. “I could build a playground every day!,” said Gina Lazo, our March Playmaker of the Month. “When you build a KaBOOM! playground, you feel like part of the community, you meet interesting people and you all come together for a great cause. At my last build, I had the opportunity to work with volunteers from a senior center. They were so excited to be there, and sometimes it’s just about feeling needed. Even though they were helping out the kids,  KaBOOM! was really helping them feel needed again. The positive impact was twofold and multigenerational, changing the lives of the volunteers and the children who would soon be playing on the playground they built.”
Q. Why do you think play is so important?
A. “As a mother, I found that having my children in after-school activities where they could play freely was so important, just as important as their academics. Play gives discipline, gets them ready for real life, and gives them the ability to go on to more organized team sports. It also helps children with their social skills and keeps them from being idle. Nowadays with kids on computers and playing videos, there is a greater need for them to be outside and be creative. Bottom line, it helps make them well rounded individuals.”
Q. What is your favorite aspect of volunteering on a playground build?
A. “I enjoy all the work. What really, really impacts me is that time at the end of the build day when you turn the playground over to the children. Just to see their faces is worth everything. Although, I must say that there’s nothing better than being on top of the mulch pile.”
Q. Why do you volunteer at these various builds?
A. “I see how it engages the community. The newly-created playground becomes a gathering place for parents, grandparents and neighbors to share their stories and be a part of raising their children. It helps make for a community and neighborhood and gives the children a sense of belonging.”
Q. What would you tell someone who does not have small children about why they should get involved in promoting play?
A. “We are all citizens of the world. It’s up to each of us to do what we can to help each other out. If we enhance our community, change an empty lot where there’s vagrancy, drugs who knows what, we are changing our community. Plus, being involved in establishing a safe place play is so much fun. You come away tired, but very, very fulfilled.”
Q. What about the argument of competing interests in society?
A. “Lack of play shouldn't drop to the bottom of our issues of concern. These children are our citizens and leaders of tomorrow. After-school activities and playgrounds are vital to our children’s ability to grow.”
Congratulations Gina on all the amazing work you are doing as a Playmaker! |