By Cole Wimberly
Gift cards have been given to each of the 693 students of Salem Community High School. Kelsey Pogue, the lead organizer of the gift card giving, seeks out donations from the community, businesses, individuals, and teachers. The gift cards worth spans from $10-$50. The total sum of donations added up to roughly $9,000 this year.
Pogue has gained a lot of support from the community and the individuals around her.
“The staff here, the teachers make donations,” Pogue said. “I have had people just come in and drop money off. Everybody wants to help. I think that’s a big thing about Salem: everybody wants a way to help, and this is a way that we can reach almost 700 people at one time.”
Pogue began as a contributor roughly 4-5 years ago, and now is in charge of the gift card giving. When she first began the Vice President at the time gave her a stack of cards and told her to give them to any kids who seemed like they needed a “pick me up”. Pogue has worked hard to improve the gift card giving, and enjoys her position in leading the charge.
“Some kids might get a $15 Wal-Mart gift card and be like, ‘cool.’ Some kids get that $15 gift card and say, ‘I’m going to buy my little sister a present,’ or, ‘My best friend is always getting me stuff, now I can buy something for my friend.’ For me, that’s the part that I enjoy,” Pogue said.
With the cards, the students can now use that money to give back to the community.
