By ABAGAIL EVERETT – It’s the time of year to be thankful and charitable. For the holidays, IHS clubs and organizations are once again participating in the giving spirit.
Every year around the holidays, The Indiana High School Student Government Association (SGA) sponsors a variety of events that raise money for the Teddy Bear Fund Drive, which benefits Children’s Hospital.
As in past years, SGA will host the annual Variety Show on the morning of December 22, which features a variety of both student and teacher acts ranging from singers and instrumentalists to a performance by the Dance Team and a students vs. faculty Quiz Bowl match.
The Teddy Bear Fund Drive activities also include afternoon games and activities, all which contribute proceeds to the charity. SGA also runs the Trick or Trot 5k, a raffle of donated items (lovingly run by office secretaries Bonnie Myers and Joyce Shirley), popcorn/bake sales, Treasures for Children, and collects money at sporting events.
Senior and SGA President Margaux Marcus commented, “It’s great to get the community together to work for a common cause. We are here after school every day until 6:00 p.m. or later, but it doesn’t feel like work because everyone is so motivated to help these children.”
IHS Key Club also does its share of charitable work over the holiday season, contributing with Operation Christmas Child, YMCA Turkey Trot, Trick or Treat for UNICEF, Love Basket, the Halloween Parade, an Indiana Country Club Luncheon, and donations to the Humane Society.
Vice President of Key Club and senior Teresa Roth said, “In November, we ran our annual Love Basket collection, where we collected non-perishables to donate to the less fortunate for Thanksgiving. We also just finished up our Operation Christmas Child event, where members sign up to bring a shoe box filled with goodies to donate to underprivileged kids all around the world for the Christmas season!
The idea is to fill them with items we would normally take for granted; that someone less fortunate would see as a treasure. This past Monday, Executive Board members worked as waiters at a luncheon for disabled members of Indiana at the Country Club, something we definitely look forward to every year!”
Sophomore Lauren Bailey adds, “We are giving back to the community through work, effort, and mental gratitude. Operation Christmas Child was effective considering that children around the world were able to receive necessary supplies for everyday life. Key Club is helping to unlock the hearts of the community.”
Indiana High’s FBLA is pitching in by hosting this year’s Tinsel Ball.. FBLA is holding a Tinsel Ball King and Queen contest where students put donations into a can, and the candidates with the most money collected win the titles. All proceeds are being donated to the National Kidney Foundation. FBLA President and senior Claire Kuzneski commented, “Each year every FBLA chapter in the state chooses a charity to support. We have made it our goal this holiday season to raise funds for this worthy charity.”
Students at Indiana High look forward to these activities each year, and the money raised helps to make a happy holiday season for the beneficiaries of a wide range of worthy charities.
[PHOTO BY HIGH ARROW STAFF]
