Big, beautiful bouquets to Akron’s Archbishop Hoban High School for its over-the-top, two-week food drive that netted more than 55,000 cans for local nonprofits for their holiday preparations and clients.
It’s a monumental teachable moment, a true lesson in caring about the less fortunate for the students and the community.
“Students also collected baby formula for Pregnancy Care and large chocolate bars for Victim Assistance holiday baskets,” school spokeswoman Mary Anne DeCenzo said.
“The students came up with creative ways to band together for the drive. Student Council sponsored a one-day intramural volleyball tournament where the entry fee was 80 cans, and held dress-down days during the drive to promote interest in giving. The steady persistence of the students and faculty during the annual drive made it possible to surpass the goal again this year. …
“On Nov. 19, the school celebrated the end of the drive with an all-school assembly where the ‘Golden Can’ was awarded to the highest-grossing first-period class. The senior class was named champions for having the highest class total. In addition, George Camiletti from Good Neighbors in Akron spoke to the students about how their efforts benefit those in need.”
Agencies on the receiving end of Hoban’s food drive are: Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank; Battered Women’s Shelter; Blessed Trinity Parish; Father Hilkert Ozanam Center at Visitation; Glenmary Farm; Good Neighbors; Good Samaritan Hunger Center; Haven of Rest; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish/St. Vincent de Paul Society; OPEN M; Project HOPE; Sacred Heart, Wadsworth; St. Vincent de Paul Auxiliary; St. Bernard’s Hot Meal Program; Victim Assistance; and Pregnancy Care.
“Hoban also will be helping those in need throughout the holidays in other ways as well,” DeCenzo noted. “The National Honor Society has adopted 30 Akron area families and students will help to provide them with Christmas dinner and gifts. There also will be a mitten and hat drive sponsored by Hoban’s SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) program.”
Thanks again, Hoban, for being such a caring community.
Cards for Heroes
Lora Staats, Cuyahoga/Portage Daughters of the American Revolution Service for Veterans Committee, has more information for those wishing to honor our military during the holiday season:
“When I read about the Cards for Heroes I felt I wanted to tell you how our chapter of DAR has been a part of that venture.
“Last month we collected Christmas cards and brought them to our Cuyahoga/Portage chapter meeting. As part of the meeting we signed the cards with ‘thank you’ and ‘many best wishes for the holidays.’ We have collected and signed 294 cards and they are boxed and ready to go into the mail.
“Another easy way to help the veterans is to collect canceled postage stamps and mail them to Stamps for the Wounded. They are sent on to veterans in hospitals and nursing homes who carefully remove them from the paper and use them to make albums and pictures. This project is sponsored by the Lions Club and can be found online. I have been told that this is something bed-bound and wheelchair-bound veterans can do to fill their time and prevent boredom.”
A reminder that the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are again sponsoring Holiday Mail for Heroes. Address cards to Dear Service Member and send to Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD, 20791-5456. Cards (no letters please) must be postmarked no later than Friday.
Christmas trees wanted
HM Life Opportunity Services, a two-year transitional housing program for homeless, single-parent families, is seeking Christmas trees for its clients.
“When families come out of emergency shelters, into our housing program, they do not have Christmas trees and decorations,” said Karen Stambaugh, family development specialist at HM Life.
To help, please email KStambaugh@hmlife.org or call 330-376-5600, Ext. 2030.
Active couple retires
Heartfelt congratulations to local educators Susan and Dr. Phil Martucci on their recent retirements and huge contributions to local education, advocacy for children and the community.
Susan retired during the summer with 35 years of service with Stow-Munroe Falls schools, 17 as a teacher and 18 as a principal at Echo Hills Elementary School.
Her husband retired Nov. 30 with 30 years of service, most recently as executive director of special education and pupil services, Cuyahoga Falls school district.
Both are super-active participants in society, Susan as a board member and grant writer at Zane’s Foundation, Phil as a board member of the Summit County United Way and The GriefCare Place. And both are volunteers with OPEN M (Opportunity for People Everywhere in Need Ministry).
In need of devices?
A dear reader has these items to offer someone in provable need:
“A Siemens Pure Carat 501xcl right ear hearing aid with charger … We would like to donate it to someone who could get use out of it … We also have a portable potty and walker.”
Interested? Let me know.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.