News
Giving Back to the Community: Tennessee Edd
October 22, 2015
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22 OCT 2015 POSTED BY CINDY BOUCHARD
When we met Edd Bissell on our first day in La Cruz, he extended his hand and with a hearty handshake, he says, “I’m AAy-ehhd, where y’all from?”. We bonded instantly as he shared what brought him to La Cruz, that he now calls home and how he’d be surprised if we didn’t end up doing so too! It’s been six years now; I guess he knew things we didn’t.
Edd tells you how it is – whether you want to hear it or not. He’s a self-confessed, Redneck and proud of it. He makes me laugh out loud but Edd’s true self is revealed through his kindness to one teeny, Rancho community called San Quintin. Every conversation includes a plea for help for his town, starting with the school. He just wanted to see kids get an education. As they graduated he wanted them to go on to higher education and it’s happening! No child had gone past sixth grade before Edd took a stand, now several have graduated and some have gone on to higher education.
Luis was the teacher the second year I helped out the school. I had asked for a bilingual teacher and he was it in the whole system; lucky for both of us I suppose. With him, I was able to turn the school from a baby-sitting facility into something of better value — But it was difficult!! To start with there was no parental support. None! And after sixth grade the full school expense is on the family, no government help. We help pay school fees, bus fare, books, pencils, paper, etc. We try to give them money for any extra activities that might come up”.
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