Tom Bean, Texas – On Thursday, Tom Bean Independent School District marked its annual Day of Service, a student‑led volunteer event created to honor the memory of the late Jesse Farrer, a former school board president and longtime coach who was beloved for his dedication to service.
Service projects across campus
Rather than sitting for tests, students turned their energy toward helping the community. The football team assembled care packages for nursing‑home residents and local food banks, while junior Carter Mayo described the effort as “getting some goodies together.”
In a separate project, a group of sophomore and senior students cut fabric and sewed reusable menstrual pads for girls in need, explaining that the pieces were combined to create a finished product.
Other volunteers prepared daily‑essential kits for local nurses, with one student noting, “They do so much for us that we have to give the kindness back.”
Hands‑on work beyond the classroom
Students also took their service to the town’s wastewater treatment plant, where they spray‑painted a gate and began work on an older building, hoping to improve its appearance. Senior Natale Brown said the work was “getting to know each other and also just giving to the community.”
Senior Sadie Brookshire summed up the day’s impact, saying the service “just makes me feel better about myself.”
Remembering Jesse Farrer
Spanish teacher Cricket Killingsworth, who helped organize the event, said the Day of Service was established four years ago and is celebrated on Farrer’s birthday. “A gentleman by the name of Jesse Farrer was not only a school board member, but a coach here in Tom Bean ISD, and he was beloved, and he had a heart for service,” Killingsworth said.
The tradition continues to inspire students to give back, reinforcing the district’s focus on character development and community involvement.
Original reporting: KXII News 12 (Gray) — read the source article.
