Dec 12, 20233 min read

Sacred Supplies: Spreading holiday spirit

By Amie Ahn and Ariel Lee Dec. 14, 2023 Just in time for the holiday season, the school partnered with Sacred Heart Community Service (SHCS) to host a donation drive, aiming to aid those living in poverty. The drive provided students with the opportunity to give back to the community, fostering joy and holiday spirit.

Founded in 1964, SHCS is a non-profit organization located in San Jose whose mission is to build a poverty-free community. The organization works to uphold the right to sufficient food, clothing, housing, education, health care and personal safety for all. Through community organizing and volunteer programs such as an Urban Gardening project and a racial justice initiative, SHCS provides community members with the opportunities and resources to help those in need through donations and firsthand. One such opportunity is hosting donation drives with schools in the local community.

From Nov. 6 to Dec. 1, the school hosted its “Sacred Supplies” donation drive in partnership with SHCS. Students could donate items such as gently used clothing, hygiene products and canned food, which would then be sent to SCHS and delivered to families in need in the Bay Area community. To incentivize students to donate, students who donated during the first week received donuts. Additionally, this fundraiser was a competition for all second-period classes—each donated item won a certain number of points for the class, and the top 3 classes highest-scoring classes won a free pizza party. Heidi Pimentel, Foreign Language Department, class won first place, with Beth Guo, Math Department, and Jenny Park, English Department, following closely afterward.

“A majority of students at the school are well-off, so donation drives are a great way to get them involved in giving back to the community. Every single donation counts and has the power to make an impact, as one student can influence another, creating a ripple effect,” Guo said.

Although this was only the school’s second year in a row working with SHCS to host this drive, ASB has hosted similar donation drives for over 20 years in hopes of teaching students to give back during the holiday season. ASB students promote these events through social media and weekly announcements and encourage student participation with reward systems. In spite of that, Meg Walsh, Activities Director and Leadership Advisor, stated that this year’s turnout was not as successful because not many students participated.

“It is extremely important to give back during the holiday season to spread joy and help families in need. Thus, school donation drives offer an easy way to give back to the community. Another way to give back to the community is by volunteering during the holiday season; I always feel happy and grateful when volunteering,” Freshman Yena Han said.

Community service is especially important during the holiday season, a time of perpetual hope and gift-giving. Some parents may take up volunteering while looking for things to do with their families or extended family. Giving back can also be a small effort; people can do something as simple as donating old clothes that are in good condition to the people in an area’s community or just donating food.

Providing materials to those who are less fortunate in our community helps everyone experience the joy and love that can feel during the holiday seasons. As a result, through Sacred Supplies, the school was able to spread the seasonal cheer and spread joy this holiday season.

About the Contributors

Amie Ahn staff writer Amie Ahn is a freshman at Leland High School and is a writer for The Charger Account. During her free time, she enjoys eating, sleeping, and spending time with her friends.

Ariel Lee staff writer Ariel Lee is a freshman at Leland High School and is a page writer for her first year in journalism. In her free time, she likes to sleep, do nothing, binge shows (kdramas), and listen to music.

Kavya Desai artist Kavya Desai is a senior at Leland High School and is a new artist for The Charger Account. During her free time, she enjoys sleeping, playing video games, and going for long drives.