Fitch student body and staff collect 10,000 items for needy

AUSTINTOWN -- Students had collected about 1,100 food items for the needy last year, so English teacher Gina Cardillo was overwhelmed -- happily -- when the student body at Fitch High School donated about 10,000 items this year.
Students and staff collected nonperishable items and holiday gifts for the Austintown PTA Council Special Services, who will distribute baskets to about 100 needy families this holiday season.
Students collected the items beginning Nov. 7 and finished the drive Friday. Boxes filled with the goods jammed Cardillo's classroom Friday, taking over about half the floor space and displacing student desks, which were clustered in the back of the room. No one seemed to mind.
Cardillo said students got into friendly competition, some knocking on the doors of neighbors to collect donations and others calling local grocers for help.
Members of the Students Against Destructive Decision Making club and the Latin Club also worked together to make contributions.