NHS spread holiday cheer through Gift Giving Campaign

Posted February 2021

By Tristan Hansen

Staff Editor

The National Honor Society successfully embarked on a campaign to donate gifts and money to underprivileged families during the holiday season.

Like many other clubs and activities still ongoing amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the NHS has had to resort to operating in a distanced and online fashion throughout the school year. Despite regular activities of theirs, such as working the concession stand at basketball games having become impossible, they’ve still found ways to meaningfully contribute towards the community and positively impact those around them.

Meeting once a month through Google Classroom, the NHS has begun operating an official Instagram page meant to raise awareness for particular causes. Students might create one or two Instagram posts a month, to then be posted on the official Instagram for the world to see.

“The Instagram page has been a good tool to remind NHS members of things and build a platform,” said NHS advisor Rachelle Zimmerman.

During the week prior to Thanksgiving, SUN Coordinator Nicole Sender approached Mrs. Zimmerman and suggested the NHS find a way to provide for the community in anticipation of the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving was initially the target, but with Thanksgiving day looming just around the corner and much work and planning still needing to be done, the focus was quickly shifted towards Christmas instead.

The Holiday Gift Giving Campaign concept was officially proposed to the NHS on Dec. 3. Club officers then assisted in determining the direction of the campaign and ways through which other members could contribute. In the absence of physical, in-person interaction, news of the campaign was predominantly spread through word of mouth, social media, and email.

“We spread a lot of news through word of mouth and email,” Zimmerman said.

Eighteen David Douglas families who had been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic were selected for the campaign, all of whom had previously communicated a need for assistance. Google forms were sent to and filled out by all the participating families, who specified the items they hoped to receive.

Donations were then collected from students, staff members, and the community during the two Saturdays leading up to Winter Break. Those interested in donating could sign up to purchase, wrap, and submit requested gifts through a website called signupgenius.com, while cash donations were accepted through the high school bookkeeper. Some teachers donated gift cards. Ultimately, through generous contributions the NHS was able to fulfill all the families’ requests.

“We were able to support everyone who submitted an application for the holiday gift giving campaign,” said Zimmerman.

Once all the gifts and cash donations had been collected, the gifts were delivered on Dec. 20, the Sunday before Christmas.

Principal among the motivations for the Holiday Gift Giving Campaign was the desire to give back to the community.

“This idea of giving back to families who have just hit hardship is awesome and I feel it has the opportunity to be a great way for students to feel the sensation of being generous and working towards a cause that’s going to make others happy,” said Zimmerman.

This sentiment was echoed by NHS member, junior Natalie Hebert.

“I believe it’s important to give back to the community," Hebert said. "Giving back to the community is a way to not only help yourself feel good, but help others. You can give someone what they really need even if you don't have much. Pushing yourself to do a little more than you're used to, could help the community, even in small ways.”

Giving back to the community is perhaps particularly relevant given the extraordinary circumstances under which we’re living. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in extraordinary hardships for millions of families across the country, including many in our own community.

“Spending money on gifts and presents was increasingly difficult for families because of lost income, family health costs, and in some cases the loss of loved ones," Zimmerman said. "We knew that our NHS students could spread the work, gather resources from families, friends, and teachers, and collect donations to make a serious difference in the lives of fellow Scots.”

The Holiday Gift Giving Campaign may not be the last effort by the NHS to give back to the community this year. The NHS is currently in the early phases of planning to work with and supply an organization titled PDX Free Fridges, who provide free food to needy families across Portland. Additionally, if lockdown measures permit, the NHS is considering in-person community service activities over the next few months.

“Depending on how quarantine and Covid restrictions move over the next few months, if we are able to gather at the high school I’d love to run some of our neighborhood cleanups," said Zimmerman.