Salem Community High School Principal John Boles says students, staff and the community have been in a giving spirit to the less fortunate this holiday season.
He told the school board Monday night a gift card program was resurrected with more than $4,500 in donations.
“For the month of December, teachers paid $20 for the month and they got to wear jeans and that raised over $1100 to start off with. So got off on a good start and so thankful to churches and businesses in the community. One thing went to another and before we knew it it was over $4500 in collections for gift cards.”
Boles explained how the students were selected.
“Survey went out to teachers to submit any student that they felt that was not only in need but did good deeds throughout the year and deserved a nice reward for being kind. Sort of an at a boy or at a girl.”
Boles says 139 $30 gift cards were purchases from Walmart for distribution to students across the building. Another $1,210 in gift cards were received from various restaurants around town that were distributed to students.
There was an anonymous donation of $3,000 that is being used to help provide new clothes and shoes for students throughout the building. Ten students were able to go shopping this week with money from the donation.
Boles says students also raised money for various projects. Scott Steward’s homeroom adopted three children from the BCMW-WJBD Adopt a Family program after raising $400. The Peer Helpers raised enough money to shop for 15 children through the program. Agriculture students put together 130 gift bags for those who eat at the Project Bread Meal Site in Salem. They contained blankets, socks, toiletry items and snacks. They raised $1,500 for the project through pork loin sales.
