IN Greensburg Salem Spring 2020 | Page 28

Friday Dollars for Donuts partner with Mrs. Audia’s Advisory class to sell donuts and chocolate covered pretzels in the library. This year’s sales topped $3,000. Teachers at GSMS Organize Giving Tree Gifts for Delivery Giving Tree Program Boosted by Students’ Creative Efforts to Raise Money I t has been said that it takes a village to raise a family. It could also be said that it takes an entire school community to implement a Giving Tree program. Though there are slight differences between the High School and Middle School Giving Tree programs, both have a goal of helping Greensburg Salem families who need extra support during the holidays. Staff from both schools began contacting families in early October about their needs and have what is a very heartfelt and difficult conversation. “It is hard for families to say they are struggling to provide holiday meals or gifts that are basically necessities for their kids,” explains HS Guidance Counselor Laura Klipa. Donors provide both gifts and monetary contributions. Typically, each child gets a new pair of shoes, outerwear, and clothes that are picked just for them. Toiletries and some personal items of interest are also provided. Many generous families and businesses in our community join our efforts. JC Penny’s, Quatrini Rafferty, the TLC Foundation, All Saint’s Brewery, the Water Authority, a very generous anonymous alumni group, and the Fraternal Order of Greensburg Police made contributions to the GS Giving Tree this school year. Students and teachers join the efforts by organizing fundraisers within their classrooms. In Ms. Guido’s high school biology classes, a coin collection competition raised $50 and enabled them to purchase gift cards for the Giving Tree. High School librarian, Mrs. Vottero, manages Donuts for Dollars, which has raised $3000 from a much loved and very popular donut sale. Donuts are delivered fresh on Fridays by Mrs. Yasika from the Guidance office. The sale also includes too-good-to-pass-up chocolate covered pretzels made by Mrs. Audia’s Advisory class. At the Middle School, students donate freshly baked cookies and muffins to sell during Enrichment and other classrooms sell snacks like chips, pretzels or pencils. All the money raised by these Middle School projects is then donated to the Giving Tree to help with purchasing clothes and supplies. “Classrooms are typically able to contribute about $50,” says Mrs. Garofola, the student council adviser who coordinates the Middle School Giving Tree at GSMS. “It may not seem like much but it adds up.” Finally, staff and volunteers spend an entire day delivering gifts to the homes of more than 100 GS families. Thanks to the amazing efforts of the GS community, families who need extra help receive presents under their Christmas trees, food to help make the holiday dinners plentiful and hopefully a Christmas morning that is a little brighter! Disguise A Turkey Project Benefits Local Families F irst Graders at Metzgar Elementary raised $230 during their Disguise-a-Turkey Project in November. Students were challenged to disguise a turkey so that it wouldn’t be “eaten” for Thanksgiving dinner. Students, staff and parents then paid to vote for their favorite creation. The proceeds were donated to the Westmoreland County Food Bank as a way of spreading kindness to local families in need. The turkeys with the top votes were Addasyn Crissman (Mermaid Turkey), Gunnar Swartz (Batman Turkey), and Harper Mutnansky. (JoJo Siwa Turkey). Disguise a Turkey Winners: Gunner Swartz, Addasyn Crissman and Harper Mutnansky. 26 GREENSBURG SALEM