I really love this time of the year - except for the weather and shorter days. What I really enjoy is the time when families and friends come together to fellowship and share in the joy of life. However, we know in this day and financial situation our country is going through that not everyone we know is as lucky as we are. For instance, Cherokee has 20% of its students that qualify for free/reduced price lunch/breakfast. Springfield Public Schools as a whole is just over 50% and several schools in Springfield are in the 75% or higher range.
Knowing the situation we are in here and the situation that others within a 5 to 10 minute drive is so drastically different has spurred students and staff here at Cherokee to help out.
Since I have been here we annually participate in food drives to help Ozarks Food Harvest, our NJHS students adopt families, ring the bells for Salvation Army, and we collect clothing and gifts for the Pride Stores to name just a few.
But what really gets me excited is when individual students come to me with an idea to help others. That happened for the first time last year. I had a young lady ask if we could collect blankets for the Victory Mission. Of course I said yes and off she went and collect about 100 blankets. A few weeks ago two 8th graders approached with a similar idea. These two young ladies wanted to collect winter clothing, jackets, and toys for one of our elementary schools with a large number of low SES students. Again I said I would do what I could to help. It has done tremendously well and it makes me so happy to be a part of such a wonderful community in which families encourage their children to be thankful for what they have, but to also extend a helping hand to those in need.
I have worked and been an AP in those schools. I know the stories and see the faces. Oh to see the faces on the families when they receive the new jackets and winter clothing would be priceless.
Thank you to the Cherokee community and especially the individual students that aren't afraid to help those that need it most!!
