Just days before winter break starts, students at Meridian High School aren’t tuning out in anticipation of the holidays. They’re completing service projects to benefit people in their community.
Mid-morning on Thursday, Dec. 19, students across the school made 70 friendship bracelets for kids in foster care, prepared 16 meals for Agape Home for Women and Children in Bellingham, and wrote nearly 1,000 notes and cards for health care workers, nursing home residents, homeless people and more.
They’re participating in Give Before You Get, a service program started at Meridian in 2019. All students and staff take part in the hour of service.
English teacher Kayla Turner, who worked to organize Give Before You Get this year, said the program is an opportunity for students to be “selfless.” She said it’s cool to see the students’ engagement in the projects.
“I think a lot of times, people have ideas of ‘kids these days,’ and these kids are really good. And they have a chance to step up and do something,” she said.
Hanne Feller, who is involved in Meridian’s Future Farmers of America chapter, wrote cards to people staying at North Cascade Health and Rehab on Thursday. The 17-year-old said the community has always supported FFA, so during the holidays, she wants to show up for them. She said she hopes the cards especially help people who don’t have family to see over the holidays.
“I like to let the seniors know that they have someone out there that’s here for them,” she said, “So they’re not alone on Christmas and they have something to read, and they realize that they’re not forgotten at all.”
Across Whatcom County, students have raised thousands of dollars and donated countless goods in time for the holiday season.
At Lynden, the Fisher Elementary Student Council organized a winter coat, scarf, glove and shoe drive to donate to Lynden Schools’ Family Community Services. Food drives and fundraisers also took place at the middle and high schools.
At Mount Baker, the FFA hosted a food drive for the Foothills Food Bank.
At Squalicum High School in Bellingham, students from the leadership class, the Lemon Club and Latinos in Action participated in the district’s annual Bring Joy to a Child campaign, raising more than $3,000. The students purchased food, hygiene supplies, clothing and toys for 29 families at Northern Heights and Birchwood elementary schools, and donated 29 turkeys to the Bellingham Food Bank.
Just under half of those funds this year ($1,200) came from the school’s Lemon Club, which raises money and awareness for childhood cancer through bake sales and concessions, said 16-year-old Nivea Ho.
Teacher Jason Bergmann said Bring Joy to a Child started more than 30 years ago in the district, but began at Squalicum in 2006.
Paige Schweigert, 17, a leadership student and student body president, said the project was as educational for the high school students involved as it was useful for the families who received the gifts. She said it opened her eyes to issues happening in the community around her.
Bergmann said some students contributed to Bring Joy to a Child this year who were recipients of the program when they were in elementary school. He said he appreciated hearing stories from the families who benefitted.
Silvana Arias, 17, said she appreciated the opportunity to be leaders in this effort.
“We’re giving all these kids also a chance to grow up and also see that they can do all this stuff, they can also be leaders,” she said.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
