‘Tis the season for cans for charity

Juniors+work+with+one+another+to+put+together+the+cans+their+class+donated+to+the+food+drive.

Priscilla Pan

Juniors work with one another to put together the cans their class donated to the food drive.

After a day of using weed wackers and hackers in the overgrown orchard, Spanish teacher Diana Moss and Kevin Moss (‘14) fought until they could see the remaining fruit trees.

Like the Moss family, students and faculty have begun donating their time and money. The holiday season comes with an influx of charity and donations. Partnered with the Spirit Club and Distributive Education Club of America (DECA), the Students for Charitable Causes (SFCC) Club held the Second Harvest food drive, collecting non-perishable foods to donate in a class competition format.

SFCC president Glenn Reddy (12) hopes to see the classes work together to donate as much as possible.

“We’ve seen donations drop off in the last couple years, so we’re really hoping to turn that trend around,” he said. “We’ve partnered with Spirit [Club], and we’re working with DECA to support the Second Harvest food drive.”

Several faculty members extend their donations to the entire year.

Moss, who supports many organizations, also donates online on a monthly basis. Evenly spread out donations are typically a better way for groups to receive money because they can expect an income, according to Moss. In December, each of Moss’s family members pick and organization for another family member to donate to in their name.

History teacher Carol Zink also volunteers in homeless shelters, food banks, and veterans’ organizations among other groups throughout the year.

“I feel that I am a very fortunate person, I have a good life, I’m comfortable and I feel that I have the obligation to help the people who are not as comfortable as I am,” she said.

Recently, some classes have been learning about the theory behind charity and giving. Zink’s classes are currently studying universal obligation, a term that refers to how much people are willing to extend themselves to help others, who typically include their immediate family and close friends.

“I think it’s a matter of empathy,” she said. “Maybe you don’t think you’ll ever be homeless, but if you just imagine for a few minutes what it must be like to sleep outside and not know where your next meal is coming from, how can you not try to help?”

Several students from SFCC in varying performing arts groups will set up a show and sing songs from choirs to those at the Bridgepoint Senior Living Point later in the year.
 This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on Nov. 21, 2014.