By Heather Ruenz
Editor
When a request for help to collect items for the local food pantry was received, numerous Big Foot High School students and staff stepped up to the challenge without giving it a second thought.
Chris Cary, the athletic assistant and insurance clerk for the high school’s Athletic Department, received a request to gather a group of volunteers from Big Foot High School for the TMJ4 Community Baby Shower, held last week.
The baby shower was an all-day affair, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Jan. 13 at the Sentry store in Walworth. The Big Foot Food Pantry, which benefited from the event, staffed the collection drive from 9 a.m. to noon but additional volunteers were needed to finish out the remainder of the shift.
“We sent students that would be good school representatives and wanted to participate,” Cary said.
Responsibilities for the volunteers included: handing out flyers to shoppers about the baby shower; thanking people for their donations, and; informing shoppers that their donations would benefit the Big Food Pantry.
“Many Sentry patrons donated money and directed the kids to please do their shopping for them. They were in a hurry but wanted to donate, so they asked the kids to spend the money on things the pantry had the greatest need for,” Cary explained.
“The kids were amazed at the generosity of the community,” Cary added.
Jenna Fort, a junior at Big Foot High School, said helping at the event was important to her, and will also potentially play into her future.
“I feel it’s important to support and improve our community as much as I possibly can. Aside from helping my community, the fundraiser also benefited me by gaining my community service hours to further the quality of my college applications,” Fort said.
“I would love the opportunity to do this again,” Fort added.
Students that helped cover the afternoon shifts missed a class or two, but the trade-off was worth it, according to Evan Karabas, a senior at the high school.
“Since it was for a good cause, the moral dilemma of missing class was alleviated,” Karabas said.
Karabas said he enjoyed interacting with members of the community.
“It’s always a unique and interesting experience when you get to interact and converse with locals,” Karabas said.
Numerous volunteers – including several Big Foot High School staff members – helped cover the daylong event, Cary said, working various shifts.
“Kids from athletics, the National Honor Society and the technology department – to name a few – all joined the efforts to help make the food drive successful,” Cary said.
Cary was impressed that the school was able to pull the event off, especially considering it was a last-minute deal.
“I was not notified until late Wednesday that there was a need for workers. The kids did a great job of getting their permission slips in, and clearing things with teachers. I am very proud to say that we had a small army of kindhearted kids and staff that did a great job serving their community,” Cary said.
“We were happy to be called on to participate and have the opportunity to give back to a community that is always generous to Big Foot High School,” Cary added.
Correspondent Penny Gruetzmcher contributed to this story.
