As the holidays approach, schools around the region are doing their part to make a difference.
This time of year always seems to bring the good out in people, evident by the uptick in food drives and giving trees taking place at local businesses and organizations. And within the walls of area schools, students and faculty are coming together to make the holidays a little brighter – including for families and students that need help.
Under normal circumstances, there are families and individuals that struggle, but the holiday season brings an added amount of stress with the looming thoughts of buying gifts and putting together holiday meals. Thankfully there are some caring school communities in this region.
Last week, the fourth and fifth grade students at Jaffrey Grade School were treated to an assembly with Amy Driscoll from King Arthur Flour. They learned about how to read a recipe, measure ingredients and Driscoll brought in the science and math behind it.
Each student got a bag with a recipe and all the necessary ingredients to make two loaves of bread. The idea was for the students to go home, make the bread and keep one for their family. The other one was to be brought back to school on Tuesday and the collection of bread would then be donated to the Jaffrey Food Pantry and Shelter From the Storm.
“It takes over three hours to make the bread,” said Principal Susan Shaw-Sarles. “It’s a process they really have to invest in and work on.”
For each monthly community meeting, there is a theme. November’s meeting is gratitude, and each grade level has something special planned for their community partners, which include the fire department, bus drivers, school crossing guards and custodians. The school also has an ongoing bin for donations for the food pantry.
Highbridge Hill Elementary in New Ipswich has a different drive each quarter that benefits the community. This week, the annual Helping Hands Toy Drive will kick off with all the collected toys going to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Greenville. The drive goes until mid-December and are then dropped off at St. Vincent for distribution.
“We know all the toys go to kids in our community,” said Principal Marion Saari.
Last year, the school collected more than 200 toys.
“It shows the kids we need to give back to the community,” Saari said. “And it’s wonderful to see the response.”
Great Brook School in Antrim always hosts a “Coats For Kids” drive and last year collected about 150 for those in need, said Principal Jim Elder. They give out about a dozen Thanksgiving dinners each year and do a similar thing at Christmas.
To show support for those in the military, the students write cards for military members as a community service project, and sent out more than 100 cards last year.
As a project for the entire ConVal School District, they host a fill-a-bus week-long event at Walmart and the South Meadow School food pantry provides holiday food baskets.
The students and staff at Wilton-Lyndeborough are busy during this time of year. The Interact Club is collecting animal/pet items for local animal shelters and the National Honor Society recently completed a trick or canning initiative, with proceeds going to the Open Cupboard Pantry and the Second Congregational Church in Wilton. The National Honor Society is also sponsoring a food drive that will begin in mid-November to benefit the Second Congregational Church.
And as a way to help out families in the school, the faculty and staff at WLC make donations and the money is used to purchase gift cards for those students in need of some holiday cheer.
At Rindge Memorial School, the annual Harvest Food Drive is always a big success. A shopping cart for each grade level – preschool through fifth grade – is placed in the front lobby. The donations in the decorated carts have already been emptied once after starting last Monday and the top three grade levels receive extra recess and physical education for bringing in the most for the Rindge Food Pantry.
“It’s just a friendly competition to see who can generate the most,” said Principal Kelly Marcotte. “I’m always amazed by the generosity of the children and their families.”
Last year the collection brought in 868 pounds of nonperishable food items that will surely make a big difference this holiday season.
“It’s extremely heart-warming,” Marcotte said. “This community is very generous and they really care.”
The student council arranges a cookie platter initiative to be dropped off at places like the fire station, police department and library as a way to say thank you. The school also has a coat exchange area for those in need of new winter gear.
To help with the initiatives, check with your local school and see how you can make a difference this holiday season.