Give-A-Thon Benefits Families in Need

The students, families and teachers really know how to give, and it was evident as I was able to once again volunteer at this year's Give-a-thon. It’s the 27th at SHS, and each year the donations seem to surpass the prior year.

According the SHS website, Give-a-thon represents spreading holiday cheer to the needy. Each year they have three succinct goals: 1. Provide holiday gifts for at least 200 Lake County families. 2. Donate enough food to stock the for six months. 3. Donate enough diapers, formula and young motherhood items to Lake County PADS to meet their needs for six months.

With holiday music filling the Wood Commons, students came down and delivered the donations from their classes. They were offered holiday treats baked and brought in by parent volunteers and a steamy cup of hot chocolate as a thank you for helping out. Check out this slideshow to watch the donations pile up! Additionally members of student council had fun in a canned food tower building contest. It looked like so much fun. Some had their towers resemble a Christmas tree while other groups went for the tallest they could make!

Truly the whole school comes together for this event of goodness and happiness. According to the SHS Daily Digest, “Community Service Coordinator Brett Erdmann said about 1,200 people in 255 families around Lake County will receive bedding supplies and gifts through Catholic Charities. In addition, about 250 handmade fleece blankets for children were delivered to the charity. All of the items donated for the families filled a 52-foot Fed Ex semi-trailer.” 

It’s reported that 715 boxes of non-perishable food were sent to the Vernon Township pantry keeping them well stocked until June. WOW.

As always, email me with any news, topics or ideas that you want to read about. Remember, I’d like to be the first to know! I can be reached at laurenbgpatch@aol.com.