The True Meaning of this Holiday Season
Lindsey Fanton is able to give back thanks to club FCA
Whether we choose to believe it or not, the holiday season drains us. We run low on energy, money, and spirit. We run so low that eventually we are empty. Luckily, there are a few people who are not affected by the exhaustion of this unrelenting holiday season. These select few choose to keep on giving even without the gift of receiving. It takes a special kind of person to put in time to help the less fortunate. The students of NHS are those special kind of people.
“The National Honor Society volunteers in a variety of service events, including Blessings in a Backpack, Pennies for Patients to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, school functions, and the most recent “Stuff the Turkey” Food Drive to aid the Cabot United Methodist Food Bank,” NHS president, Jack Ibinson explains. He magnified the importance of family dinners, especially during the winter.
“Family holiday dinners can create joyful memories that last a lifetime, but not everyone is fortunate enough to able to afford these meals. Our efforts to collect food items are extremely important as students
This drive is a stepping stone to the NHS goal of creating a stronger community.
One of the concerns for people looking to make a difference is their lack of funds or resources.
“The simplest way for students to give back to the community is to donate their time and energy to local causes. Every charitable action, from tutoring in the elementary school to wrapping presents for donations to MS disease research, positively impacts the community,” Ibinson said, assuring us that there are cheap and effective ways to give back.
“The officers in the National Honor Society constantly update students on new community service opportunities, so giving back to the community is often as easy as checking an email and getting to work!”
Jack would like to thank his fellow NHS officers, Vice President Maya Wirtz, Treasurer Carly Bozzo, and Secretary Miranda Ross as well as their advisor Mr. Miller for helping to make the food drive a huge sudccess.
“I would also like to thank all of the students who contributed to raising a total of 888 items for the food bank! Great job everyone!”
Charity doesn’t stop after students, though. Our teachers are also responsible for numerous projects that help our community. Chemistry teacher, Alan Hooks, helps out with his wife’s TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) clinic.
“My wife, Dr. Becky Morrow, started and runs a low cost spay and neuter clinic in New Kensington called Frankie’s Friends. Frankie’s Friends is a non-profit organization. The funds raised at the clinic go toward the care of cats that have been seized from hoarding situations and other animals that have been injured and need to be nursed back to health,” said Hooks. None of us like seeing the horrible ASPCA commercials. Dr. Morrow is helping to keep us from having to see them.
It is easy for us to forget about our beloved feline friends with the whirlwind of people we have to meet and see during the holidays. But Mr. Hooks and his wife do not turn a blind eye to this fact.
“This is an important way to give back to the community for a few reasons. One, it provides people with low income a cheap way to have their cats spayed and neutered, get rabies vaccines, and have basic checkups. Two, the funds go toward the care of ill and injured animals that they would not likely get because of the high costs of veterinary care. And three, it helps communities try to control the population of stray and feral cats.”
Also as a bonus, if you’re buying for the person who has it all, try adopting a cat from Frankie’s Friends for the gift that keeps on giving!
So in this holiday season, do not forget about those in need. Don’t be afraid to get out there and raise money and awareness for people who might not have such a glamorous Christmas.
