Four Fitch friends fight the freeze on Federal Plaza
By AMANDA TONOLI
AUSTINTOWN
Four Austintown Fitch High School students saw the result of their finished community project in downtown Youngstown.
Jordan Crum, Kaitlyn Seger, Kara Potkonicky and Taylor Henderson started a collection of new and gently used hats, gloves and scarves for those in need to distribute around West Federal Street.
“My friends and I were so excited to make this a big deal for the community,” Crum said.
Cindy McCutcheon, 12th-grade English teacher, said the idea started from reading the book “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom. She challenged students in her classes to give back in some way.
“They saw this on social media, happening in larger cities – like Chicago – and brought it to me and said ‘Look, we did this,’” McCutcheon said. “I just fell in love with the idea immediately.”
Students hung signs around the school, resulting into a sizable donation of winter gear.
Crum said she chose downtown Youngstown’s Central Square not only because it is a well-known area, but also because it is near “Tent City” under the Marshall Street bridge, where many homeless live, setting up tents in a makeshift community.
“Unfortunately, the people living there can’t afford housing or are in a rough spot,” Crum said. “We thought this would help them.”
Students tied the winter items to trees and light poles for families to pick from.
“They could take whatever and as much as they want,” McCutcheon said. “It was a really nice scene for Christmas.”
Anything not selected would be donated to local shelters.
Superintendent Vincent Colaluca said he was proud of the students.
“Service learning and giving back to the community are important,” Colaluca said.
“Applying what they have learned outside of classroom really helps to keep students well-rounded.”