Homer for the Holidays

During the whole holiday season everyone at Homer-Center is willing to give back to the community. The different clubs work together to help make the holiday season special for everyone in school and in the Homer-Center area. Students either raise money for outside organizations, help people in the community have a Thanksgiving meal, and/or help organize fun activities at the school for the students to enjoy.

The National Honors Society makes blankets for the homeless. Health Careers and Fitness club hold a volleyball and ping-pong tournament for the students to compete in. For each team in the volleyball tournament they have to bring in one hundred food items for the food drive which then goes to student council to help with the Thanksgiving food distribution for families in the community. Mark Pangonis the advisor for both Health Careers and Fitness Club said, “The Thanksgiving volleyball tournament raised 1,200 food items for the food drive, and the Holiday Ping Pong Tournament has raised thousands of dollars over the years for the Teddy Bear Fund Drive.” The HC Observer, school newspaper holds 12 Days of Christmas Spirit Days and all money collected will be donated to the Teddy Bear Fund Drive as well.  As part of Interact Club’s participation in giving back, advisor Steven Hall pointed out,” Students went to homerooms and had students write and create Holiday cards for local veterans. Students will be ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Giant Eagle the first week in December.”

Both students and staff find it important to give back during the holidays. “I believe it is very important in giving back to others, it is a way of showing gratitude and just genuinely giving another person hope or a smile on their face. The holiday season is also a mood of giving and showing love to everyone in your community,” said junior Oshen J Maratita. Club advisor and teacher Courtney Scherf also commented, “It's fundamental to teach students early the value of giving back to others and our community.  It truly is better to give than receive, and I love being able to help students serve others.”