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SGDHS students help raise food and funds for families in need
SGDHS students help raise food and funds for families in need
Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009
SGDHS students help raise food and funds for families in need
Posted Nov 26, 2009BY EMC NEWS
EMC Events - It's only November but the students at South Grenville District High School (SGDHS) are getting into the holiday spirit by helping out with the Kinsmen Club of Prescott's annual Spirit of Giving food campaign.
About 30 students from grades 9 to 12 have committed to taking part in the month-long food drive that will help approximately 300 families in need throughout Leeds and Grenville. For the past two weeks, student volunteers have been spending two evenings a week canvassing door-to-door to accept non-perishable food or monetary donations. On Dec. 18 and 19, students will organize and sort food items into hampers which will then be available for the families to pick up at the school.
"It's a good feeling to give back to the community," said Grade 12 student and Spirit of Giving Committee co-president Nicole Szeto.
"It's great to know you're helping someone else in a time of need," agreed co-president Morgan Matthie, a Grade 12 student at South Grenville.
But SGDHS' involvement doesn't stop there. The students have set up school-wide fundraisers like 50/50 draws to help offset the approximately $10,000 cost for the Kinsmen Club to include perishables - like turkey, vegetables and fruit - in the hampers. They also featured a float at last Friday's "Light up the Night" community parade so that parade-goers could donate food items to the students anywhere along the route.
"The students walk beside the float and then put the donations they receive on the float," said teacher adviser Inga Lake. "They push shopping carts too. The campaign highlight is the parade. That brings in a lot of donations."
Lake was quick to point out the amazing commitment the student volunteers have made.
"I'd like to mention how hard these girls work," she said. "It takes a lot to organize the students and get everything ready. It's really a joy to work with each student who is helping out."
Matthie noted Lake's generosity as well. "Ms. Lake actually won our last 50/50 draw and donated all of the money back!" she said.
Prescott Kinsmen Club president Art Hitsman said the SGDHS students are a huge help each year during the campaign.
"Our club is only 10 members and to try and run all the food drives that are required to pull in the non-perishables... it would be impossible to do it on our own," he said. "The youth movement, and the spirit and energy they have, well ... when people see that they feel the need to donate."
Hitsman said the club has placed 45-gallon drums in stores and businesses throughout the community for additional food donations.
Angel Trees have also been set up in stores, which allow people to pick a paper angel off the tree and purchase a gift for a child. The purchased gift is then collected by the club and added to the food hampers. "It's always nice to help people in need at Christmas," Hitsman said. "This campaign helps alleviate a lot of stress for people in tight financial situations. It makes the holiday enjoyable like it's supposed to be."
The SGDHS students will be canvassing door-to-door between 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1 in Cardinal, Dec. 3 in Johnstown and Dec. 7 in Maynard.