Owensboro Catholic High School has traditionally begun the school year with a magazine sale fundraiser. As administrators and students saw the number of sales dwindle and the lack of participation lessen, Principal Gates Settle decided to switch things up a bit.
Calling in a group of student leaders, Settle told them he would like to see the upcoming school year be one of service. The students brainstormed ways to give back to the community and decided to host a food drive for local pantries, said senior class vice president Hagan Edge.
The event kicked off with a pep rally on Aug. 23 and daily guidelines were announced.
Over the next week, students participated in their homerooms, bringing in specific items that were requested by the local pantries.
Senior Brooke Boarman said the reward motivated students to bring in items on time since each homeroom also received a daily prize, which ranged from doughnuts to a free dress day.
Both Edge and Boarman agreed the pep rally really inspired students to bring in items, and Edge said that his homeroom had a group text set up and the students encouraged others.
“We are the same team — all Catholic High — but we are a family,” Edge said.
Last week, teachers revealed that 5,351 items were brought in and the seniors donated the most items — 2,017.
Settle said he enjoyed seeing students help those who either couldn’t bring in the requested items or forgot. He said that the donated items will go to CrossRoads Food Pantry and the Help Office of Owensboro.
“I like how this has more widespread outreach versus just our school,” Boarman said. “It’s not just helping out our school but helping others and seeing the effect of it.
Editor’s note: The article previously had a quote attributed to Hagan Edge that was said by Brooke Boarman.
