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Central Junior High School students helped to raise more than $1,000 for East Peoria families in need this holiday season.
The CJHS student council sponsored the Red Stocking Fund, collecting donations from Dec. 5 to Dec. 16 in the form of spare change, cash and checks. The funds stay in the community to provide a holiday dinner and gifts to families who would otherwise go without.
“During study hall, people brought in change and we counted it and put it in the computer to track the total,” said seventh-grade student council representative Brooklyn Berry, 13. “Then every day they tell us on the announcements who’s in the lead from each grade level.”
Student council members made posters to advertise the fundraiser, encouraged other students to bring in donations and kept track of the funds.
Student council sponsors Brandon Shaver and Holly de Paula are both first-year CJHS teachers. Shaver said they were happy to carry on the tradition of raising money for the Red Stocking Fund.
“This is something that has been done at the school for years,” Shaver said. “As we go along, we’re continuing the things that have been done in the past as well as looking for other new and creative things to do.”
Eighth-grade student council representatives went to the FOLEPI building Dec. 16 to shop with different families for holiday items.
“That’s an opportunity for them to see first-hand some of these families and get to know some of these people they’ve helped out,” Shaver said. “It puts a face to it.”
The class that brought in the most money received doughnuts.
“I think a lot of the students realize why we’re doing this,” Shaver said. “They know it’s not for the doughnuts or to beat the other classes. It’s to help out others in our community.
“These students think about this and they get excited about it. They walk into my study hall each day asking, ‘How much money did we bring in today?’ It’s a great thing to see during the holidays when they’re going to go home and get a gift. Now they’ve helped somebody else get a gift.”
There are 45 student council representatives at CJHS, 15 from each grade level. Each is required to perform 10 hours of community service throughout the year, outside of school activities. Student council members participate in other charitable events each year, including canned food drives and helping prepare floats for the Festival of Lights Parade.
Seventh-grade student council representative Griffin Smith, 12, said he enjoys the opportunities that being involved with student council gives to help others. The Red Stocking Fund, he said, helps to spread the Christmas spirit.
“(I think this is important) so people can have a nice Christmas and have food to eat,” Smith said. “It’s just nice to be able to help the community.”
Central Junior High School students helped to raise more than $1,000 for East Peoria families in need this holiday season.
The CJHS student council sponsored the Red Stocking Fund, collecting donations from Dec. 5 to Dec. 16 in the form of spare change, cash and checks. The funds stay in the community to provide a holiday dinner and gifts to families who would otherwise go without.
“During study hall, people brought in change and we counted it and put it in the computer to track the total,” said seventh-grade student council representative Brooklyn Berry, 13. “Then every day they tell us on the announcements who’s in the lead from each grade level.”
Student council members made posters to advertise the fundraiser, encouraged other students to bring in donations and kept track of the funds.
Student council sponsors Brandon Shaver and Holly de Paula are both first-year CJHS teachers. Shaver said they were happy to carry on the tradition of raising money for the Red Stocking Fund.
“This is something that has been done at the school for years,” Shaver said. “As we go along, we’re continuing the things that have been done in the past as well as looking for other new and creative things to do.”
Eighth-grade student council representatives went to the FOLEPI building Dec. 16 to shop with different families for holiday items.
“That’s an opportunity for them to see first-hand some of these families and get to know some of these people they’ve helped out,” Shaver said. “It puts a face to it.”
The class that brought in the most money received doughnuts.
“I think a lot of the students realize why we’re doing this,” Shaver said. “They know it’s not for the doughnuts or to beat the other classes. It’s to help out others in our community.
“These students think about this and they get excited about it. They walk into my study hall each day asking, ‘How much money did we bring in today?’ It’s a great thing to see during the holidays when they’re going to go home and get a gift. Now they’ve helped somebody else get a gift.”
There are 45 student council representatives at CJHS, 15 from each grade level. Each is required to perform 10 hours of community service throughout the year, outside of school activities. Student council members participate in other charitable events each year, including canned food drives and helping prepare floats for the Festival of Lights Parade.
Seventh-grade student council representative Griffin Smith, 12, said he enjoys the opportunities that being involved with student council gives to help others. The Red Stocking Fund, he said, helps to spread the Christmas spirit.
“(I think this is important) so people can have a nice Christmas and have food to eat,” Smith said. “It’s just nice to be able to help the community.”
