Despite record unemployment rates and economic hard times in Michigan, the students and staff at Southfield High have found the means to give to multiple charities this year.
Southfield Student Congress (SSC), the National Honor Society (NHS), Sold Out for Christ (SOC) and the Young Humanitarians have been hard at work to make brighter holidays for others.
SSC kicked off a string of good deeds with its annual blood drive in partnership with the Red Cross. All students 17 years old or older were invited to give blood. Altogether, SSC collected 45 pints of blood.
SSC also sponsored its annual canned food drive, an event which encourages friendly competition between classes and with rival high school Southfield-Lathrup to see who can collect the most for the needy. After collecting 3,050 cans last year, SSC increased its success by collecting a total of 3,565 cans this year
Junior SSC member Amber Langford said, “I think donating is a good thing because not everybody is as fortunate as me. It helps me appreciate the things I have more.”
The SHS chapter of NHS helped the less fortunate by packing food boxes for the needy at American Methodist Episcopal Church in Detroit. Sixteen NHS members traveled to the church for the annual tradition established by former Assistant Principal Rita Teague.
“I felt really good helping out the community and making sure people have something to eat for Thanksgiving,” said senior Kasha Thomas, NHS member.
The Young Humanitarians, an organization dedicated to helping the needy, recently held an Empty Bowl dinner in which students made pottery bowls and other items to be sold at the dinner. The bowls were filled with chili and cornbread. Profits from the event went to St. Leo’s, a soup kitchen in Detroit.
“I feel like it’s very generous to give to others,” said junior Maria McCoy, vice-president of Young Humanitarians, ”and as an aspiring philanthropist, I believe everyone should seize the opportunity.”
SOC club members distributed Goodfellow newspapers and accepted donations. All of their profits went to the Southfield branch of Goodfellows, a group that helps provide holiday gifts to the needy. Assistant Principal Sharon Lewis oversaw the drive.
SHS teachers also did their part in helping needy children. Science teacher Jane Teska worked with Goodfellows in holding its annual toy drive, an event that the organization has held for more than 25 years. More than 40 percent of the teachers donated, yielding more than 250 toys. The toys were packaged together with other collected items to be given to underprivileged kids in the area.