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South Range students give back
South Range students help needy through annual Mitten Tree project
NORTH LIMA
South Range High School’s National Honor Society members packed their cars full of various items including gift cards, food, clothes and more Monday afternoon and prepared to deliver them to 40 families in need.
This project, The Mitten Tree, is an annual service in which certain South Range families receive a helping hand for the holiday season.
Sarah Fishel, high school teacher and NHS adviser, said the Mitten Tree is a big deal for the district because all the schools get to participate.
The elementary school ran a canned-food drive. The middle-school student council led a hygiene product drive with the fifth- through eighth-grade students. The high-school student council sold Christmas shirts as well as organized a monetary donation drive for the ninth- through 12th-graders.
“It’s nice knowing you’re helping other people and giving back to your community,” Fishel said.
This year, the effort helped families of 113 children within the school district.
Teachers were asked to give the names of students and families who might be in need of some help during the holiday season.
Morgan Smith, 17, a NHS student, said she enjoys giving back to people within the community.
“It’s nice because it hits right at home to help people from around here,” she said.
Fellow honor society student Zoey Novak, 17, agreed. She said being able to actually see those in the school district receive gifts is a very “touching feeling.”
Jordan DeSantis, 17-year-old NHS student, said she’s just happy to give families a nice Christmas.
“Not everyone has the means to buy big for the holiday, but everyone deserves a nice Christmas,” she said.