GILROY
– Gilroy High School students spread some holiday cheer last
week, collecting donations for local needy families and
distributing the items to Gilroy charities.
By Lori Stuenkel
GILROY – Gilroy High School students spread some holiday cheer last week, collecting donations for local needy families and distributing the items to Gilroy charities.
The Associated Student Body organized a cash drive in each classroom to benefit the Salvation Army and the Future Farmers of America collected warm winter clothing and hygiene products for the homeless seeking shelter at the Army National Guard armory.
ASB Advisor and Athletics and Activities Director Jack Daley said the students organize a donation each year, usually giving canned goods to the Salvation Army and The Lord’s Table run by Saint Joseph’s Family Center.
GHS students raised more than $2,200, according to ASB President Raquel Lucente, far exceeding the ASB’s goal of $1,575.
Classes that collected a minimum of $25 were invited to a celebratory assembly Friday. About 48 classes attended, “almost all of them,” Daley said.
“It was pretty crowded in the gym, but we were able to get everyone in there,” he said.
ASB worked with the high school’s Interact Club and the Gilroy Rotary Club to organize the coin drive. Some of the money will be donated by the Interact Club to an agency that purchases wheelchairs for families in Chile, Daley said.
In first place, with $149.77, Clint Wheeler’s sophomore world history class earned a pizza party. Laura Fujii’s class came in second with $112.41, earning a donut party and Rachel Kelly’s class was a close third with $112.24. Kelly’s students will get a candy party.
The Future Farmers of America chose to provide for the homeless who are staying at the cold weather shelter run by the Emergency Housing Consortium at the armory on Wren Avenue.
Collecting items from FFA members and Nolan’s students, the club donated about 35 winter coats and sweaters, along with canned food, to the armory, which also provides meals.
At a recent chapter meeting, FFA members also stuffed children’s stockings with toys, including race cars and dolls. Toiletry bags for adults were filled with shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Nolan and some FFA club members delivered the donations to the armory on the evening of Dec. 18.
“We were looking for somebody local,” Nolan said. “They were really receptive and really excited that we were donating stuff.”
FFA officers came up with the idea to during an officer retreat last summer and will likely continue the tradition.
“It’s my first year (at GHS), but I plan on doing stuff like this every year, it’s pretty nice,” Nolan said. “The kids who delivered with me left feeling pretty good.”
